Western Kentucky Surges Past Vanderbilt, 11-4

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Nine Hilltopper batters recorded hits and seven registered at least one RBI as Western Kentucky surged past Vanderbilt 11-4, Tuesday, April 1, at Hawkins Field. The win was Western Kentucky's eighth in its last 12 games and improved its overall record to 15-10. Vanderbilt fell short for the sixth game in a row to slip to 13-14 overall.

WKU starter J.C. Faircloth (5-0) remained perfect on the season. He scattered four hits, a walk and one earned run while striking out two in 5.0 innings of work. Grady Hinchman pitched the remaining four innings to post his first save of the season.

Matt Johnston led all Hilltoppers with a 3-for-4 effort. Antone Towns kocked in a game-high two RBI.

After taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning, the Hilltoppers grabbed a commanding 6-0 lead in the third innings, scoring five times. WKU tallied six hits in the frame, including four straight hits to start the inning off VU starter Blake Owen (1-1). Antone Towns sparked the inning with a two-run double into the alley in left-center field. Run scoring singles by Brent Miller and Kevin Bearden added to the lead before David Lower's sacrifice fly ended the Hilltopper scoring.

Vanderbilt managed to trim the deficit to 6-1 in the fifth. Ryan Klosterman's ground out scored Jonathan Douillard who reached on a single to right field.

WKU extended its lead to 8-1 in the seventh inning on a RBI single by Johnson and a RBI ground out by Tim Grogan.

Commodore pinch hitter Ryan Godfrey singled in Warner Jones in the eighth inning to make the score 8-2.

But Western added three more runs in the ninth on a RBI double by Matt Robinson, a RBI ground out by Matt Ransdell and run scoring double by Rafael Vallejo.

Vanderbilt plated two runs in the ninth when Jones and John Kaye hit back-to-back RBI singles.

Owen allowed six hits, six runs (all earned) with four walks and two strikeouts in 2.1 innings. Reliever John Scott surrendered two hits and two runs (both earned) in 2.2 innings. Jensen Lewis struck out one and gave up two hits in two innings. Nick Pilkington allowed three runs (all earned) on four hits and two walks in 2.0 innings. He struck out three.

Four different Commodores recorded multiple hits led by Jones' 3-for-5 effort. Matt Zeller, Klosterman and Kaye each had two hits apiece.

Vanderbilt plays host to No. 13 Florida this weekend in a three-game Southeastern Conference series. Game times are 7 p.m. CT on Friday, 4 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.