Austin Peay Baseball

Tuesday NCAA Recaps: WKU, Morehead defeat border rivals

College Baseball

Matt Rice bats for WKU: BluGrass Baseball photo

Tuesday saw four Kentucky Division One schools take the field to mixed results. Bluegrass teams were a combined 2-2 on the day, but several individual players featured standout performances. Check out recaps of those games below, and remember the state’s two ranked teams (WKU and UofL) face off today:

  • Matt Payton wasted no time making his case for the on-field component of the Lowe’s Senior Class Award, which he was named a finalist for Tuesday. Payton was 3-6 with a home run, 2 RBI and three runs scored in Western Kentucky University‘s 14-7 blowout of Austin Peay. Matt Rice and Casey Dykes also homered for the Hilltoppers. Bowling Green native Jeremy Dobbs surrendered seven runs to his hometown team in two and one-third innings of relief for Austin Peay. (Box Score)
  • In the first of a two-game set in bordering Mountain State, Eastern Kentucky University suffered a 13-11 loss to West Virginia. The Colonels face Marshall Wednesday. Shortstop Richie Rodriguez was 4-5 with one RBI and three runs scored. Designated hitter Jacob Daniel and first baseman Anthony Ottrando each homered for EKU. (Box Score)
  • A nail-bitter extra-inning game quickly turned into a blowout in Murray State University‘s 20-17 loss to Evansville. The teams were tied at 14 entering the tenth innings, but Evansville scored six run in the top of the frame and the Breds managed just three in the bottom of the inning. Left fielder Zach Noonan was 4-7 with one RBI and four runs scored, and right fielder Daniel Hill and third baseman Cory Hodskins both homered for Murray State. (Box Score)
  • Center fielder J. D. Ashbrook had a career night for Morehead State University with a perfect 5-5 day at the plate. Ashbrook drove in two, scored twice and also reached base via a hit-by-pitch in the Eagles’ 15-6 win over Marshall. Shortstop Drew Lee, right fielder Cameron Flynn and first baseman Michael Bottoms each homered in the game for Morehead. Reliever Trey Smith earned his second save of the season with four scoreless innings out of the Eagles’ bullpen. (Box  Score)

Weekend Schedule: Week Six (March 26)

College Baseball

The last of the Kentucky colleges start their conference season this week, so serious baseball has come to the Bluegrass. Check out the composite schedule below with information about where you can listen or watch the games. Gametracker links will take you to the livestream of the radio broadcast. I’ve also included each teams probable starting pitcher and Baseball America ranking in parentheses when applicable. Clicking on each team’s name will take you to the university’s preview of the series. Post will be updated as Murray St. and EKU weekend rotation information becomes available. University of Louisville (11) vs. UCONN

  • Friday — 6 p.m. — RHP Thomas Royse (4-0, 1.74) — Gametracker
  • Saturday — 1 p.m. — LHP Dean Kiekhefer (2-1, 4.00) — Gametracker
  • Sunday — 1 p.m. —  RHP Tony Zych (1-1, 9.00) — Gametracker

Western Kentucky University (22) vs. ULM

  • Friday — 6:00 p.m. (CT) — RHP Matt Ridings (4-0, 4.40) — Live Stats
  • Saturday — 3:00 p.m. (CT) — RHP Shane Cameron (2-1, 5.26) — Live Stats
  • Sunday — 1:00 p.m. (CT) — LHP Tanner Perkins (2-0, 3.55) — Live Stats

University of Kentucky @ Vanderbilt

  • Friday — 7:00 p.m. — LHP Logan Darnell (3-1, 3.09) — Gametracker
  • Saturday — 3:00 p.m. — LHP Taylor Rogers (3-1, 4.75) — Gametracker
  • Sunday — 2:00 p.m.  — RHP Alex Meyer (4-2, 6.51) — Gametracker

Murray State University @ Austin Peay

  • Friday — 1 p.m. (CT)
  • Saturday — 4 p.m. (CT)
  • Sunday — 1 p.m. (CT)

Morehead State University vs. Southeast Missouri State

  • Friday (1) — 1 p.m. — RHP Michael Bottoms (1-1, 6.38) — Live Stats
  • Friday (2) —  Game 2 — RHP Quentin Morgan (2-1, 7.43) — Live Audio
  • Saturday — 1 p.m. — TBA — Live Audio

Eastern Kentucky University vs. Eastern Illinois

  • Saturday (1) — 1 p.m. — RHP Stephen Hefler (1-1, 6.43) — Live Stats
  • Saturday (2) — Game 2 — LHP Paul Duncan (1-1, 6.14)
  • Sunday — 1 p.m. — RHP Anthony Bazzani (1-2, 8.59)

WKU rallies to blowout Austin Peay 14-7

College Baseball

Western Kentucky University dug out of an early five-run deficit to blow out Austin Peay 14-7 in a mid-week contest. WKU scored four runs in the sixth and seventh innings to put the game out of reach, and senior second baseman Matt Payton and sophomore Logan Robbins both hit home runs for the Hilltoppers. Redshirt freshman left-handed reliever Andrew Keltner earned his first career victory with three scoreless innings out of the pen.

Sophomore left fielder Jared Andreoli, senior first baseman Jake Wells, Payton and Robbins each drove in two runs in the game. Sophomore third baseman Casey Dykes was 3-4 with three runs scored in the game. Three WKU relievers combined to hold Austin Peay scoreless over the final six innings. (Box Score)

BluGrass Baseball POG: Matt Payton — Payton was 3-5 with a home run, two RBI and a run scored in the game. The senior second baseman added a walk for good measure and is batting .296 on the season.