Friday, April 5, 2002

Western Kentucky hands FIU 8-2 defeat

estern Kentucky (20-8, 4-2) defeated No. 23 FIU (26-8, 3-4) 8-2 Friday night in Bowling Green, KY in the opening game of a three-game series. The loss moved the Golden Panthers a game under the .500 mark in conference action. The lone bright spot was Brad Eldred who hit a two-run home run, his 16th of the year, moving him into a three-way tie for the career lead with 31 home runs.

FIU starter Arthur Santos pitched 3.2 innings allowing four earned runs on nine hits in his third loss of the year. Hilltopper starter Ryan Biconda pitched 8.1 innings allowing only two earned runs on six hits improving to 4-2 on the season while tying a career high with 14 strikeouts.

Western Kentucky got on the board first as Tanner Townsend hit a solo home run in the first inning off santos. They added two more runs in the second on a Trevor Keesling RBI single scoring Nick Turner and Antone Towns scored on a double play.

In the third Jeff Pacholke hit a RBI single to right field bringing in David Lower.

Eldred's home run in the fifth also scoring Hector Nunez closed the lead to 4-2.

In the seventh the Hilltoppers added to their lead scoring three runs keyed by a triple Pacholke and a run-scoring double by Towns.

The two teams will resume game two of the series tomorrow afternoon at 3pm ET. Michael Baluja will start for the Golden Panthers.