2025-04-04 Western Kentucky @ #17 Dallas Baptist (Game 1)
history was made on Tuesday as Grant Jay submitted his name in the record books three home runs on the night and with one swing he became the Patriots all-time home run king now the stakes are raised as two of the top teams in Conference USA collide it’s number 17 DBU and Western Kentucky next on ESPN Plus corner ballpark in Dallas where the Patriots and Hill Toppers open up a three-game series as the race for a Conference USA crown heats up between two of the league’s top teams and hello everybody alongside Brendan Smith I’m Reagan Rackliff patriots are coming off a 14-4 win over UTA on Tuesday they return to conference play tonight you get Western Kentucky the two of the top teams right now tied for the lead in league standings if you’re a fan of of offense you’re going to see that tonight yeah that not just the two top teams in terms of standings in the conference but the two best offenses in Conference USA and two of the best in the country you saw what the Patriots were able to do five home runs on Tuesday grant Jay responsible for three of those but the Patriots now 10th in the nation in home runs they’re 13th in the nation in scoring at almost nine and a half runs per game but they’re playing a Western Kentucky team that has completely remade themselves they are third in the nation in doubles they’ve got 77 this season eighth in the country with the 328 average they’ve added some pop and they have three transfers at the top of that order that make this an extremely dynamic offense and you cap that off with a a pitching staff that has also been very strong they’re battle tested this week taking on Vanderbilt on Tuesday it’s going to be an outstanding series here this weekend now Western Kentucky comes in this weekend 25 and4 on the season for more on the Hill Toppers turnaround under third year head coach Mark Raren we say hello to Alexis Deagarza hey guys I got to visit with Coach Raren who has been rebuilding this program since he got there and something that he really capitalized on is their new culture that he’s built upon year after year even referring to Coach Chief the culture he has built here saying “It’s not just one thing that you do but everything and it’s not only the hours you spend on the field it’s even all the hours that you spend off and along with this new culture comes a mentality that his team doesn’t quit and they don’t count themselves out saying they have a fight in them and people are starting to see that but most importantly so are their players it’s the Patriots and Hill Toppers two teams that figure to be in the mix for a Conference USA title we’ve got first pitch between DBU and Western Kentucky when we return to Dallas dbu in Western Kentucky game one it is unseasonably cool here in early April 62 degrees in Dallas you had a cold front that rolled through in fact we weren’t sure if we’re going to have baseball night with the with the weather and the rain but we’ve got a good window for baseball tonight take a look at the Hill Toppers lineup boy there are some dangerous hitters here carlos Vasquez the table setter who hits 368 and Thomas Marcala ryan Weidman is one of the elite hitters in the country you see his numbers there on the screen 455 average one of the top drive prospects in college baseball lzama’s in the cleanup spot then it’s Camden Ross joe Siero then Kyle Hayes at first reed Howard henry Brown uh a late addition to the lineup tonight uh will be at third base and take a look at Patriots Friday night ace back on the mound once again he’s been in that role since opening day it’s Micah Bugnham yeah Micah has had an outstanding year his first as a Patriot see the numbers a perfect 4-0 on the season he’s won his last three starts a 379 ERA 53 punch outs in just over 40 innings uh 234 batting average against but 20th in the nation in strikeouts and he features that fast that can get up into the mid 90s the slider curveball as well as a change up and every week he has put the Patriots in position to win game one of a series he’s going to try and do the same here against uh this Western Kentucky offense yeah what a test tonight at Western Kentucky eighth highest batting average in the country uh they’re amongst the leaders in the country in a number of categories third in the in the nation in doubles with 77 they’ve stolen 73 bases but something Mark Ron’s done a little bit different this year they played a lot of small ball last year in fact they led the country and sacrificed spuns he’s really transformed this roster this line this is a much different looking team they’re physical and you’ll see it tonight in this batting order yeah you’re going to see it especially there in those top three as we had talked about the three transfers but here’s the defense that they’re going to be trying to put up some runs against bit of a different look in along with Humphre in center Landon Underh Hill right the top heft on the left side of the Nback and Krauss on right Grant J and Mike Buckn your battery and also great to see Tom Pullback in the lineup as your DH today so here’s Vasquez a junior who was born in Sa Paulo Brazil 61 207 pounder was coming off a year in which he was a medical red shirt he shows bunt first pitch outside for ball one from Bucknham it’s been all but two games in the leadoff spot for Vasquez who has the sixth most hits in the league with 39 as he stands it pitch high and tied he’s up 2 and0 cool and cloudy tonight 62 degrees you’ve got the wind out of the north at 10 miles per hour so that’s straight in from center field bug behind at 2 and 0 can’t find the zone he’s quickly down three and nothing it’s only walked 14 and 40 in a third he’s quickly behind to Vasquez and Vasquez is a guy that can put pressure on you on the bases he’s stolen seven out of eight three-0 pitch there for a strike yeah Micah doesn’t walk a ton and then this is a Western Kentucky team that they’re living to put that ball in play they’ve got 132 walks this season but their team leader just with 16 so that’s not a huge part of their game the 3-1 high in the air and foul underh Hill gives it a look so now we go to three and two bucknham’s coming off a start against New Mexico State last week it’s always tough to pitch in Los Cruus offensive Park the thin air fast turf five innings five runs only two of those earned but he has been superb in this Friday night roll the transfer from LSU’s gone three and two now to Vasquez big pitch here to the leadoff hitter it’s fouled back up to 96 there on the express so he’s bringing it in this first inning to this first batter in Vasquez transfer from Wallace Dawan Community College in Alabama bucknham again at 3-2 struck him out top of the zone off speed at 88 from Bucknham and there’s one down oh and obviously Vasquez did not agree with that call he thought it was high and it he might have a point here that is borderline at the top of the zone great job to battle back for Micah Bucknham after falling behind 3 0 and with this Western Kentucky offense you never want to give them a head start in an off in a in an inning with a free pass they don’t give you much room to breathe here’s Marcala who’s hitting at 370 it’s the second highest average on the team at the knees for a strike this is another one of these junior college transfers that Mark Raren has struck gold with out of Hines Community College in Mississippi originally out of Louisiana he was raised in Monroe he started his college career at Baton Rouge Community College 23 and put three on the right side of the infield here versus Marcala whose average is in the top 10 in the league at 370 that’s eighth highest in Conference USA [Music] chopper to Krauss at first easy play for Chaitton and there’s two out and really no small task to to get the first two as you see the very short history between these two teams did not play until they became conference foes back in 2023 western Kentucky took that series last year in Kentucky winning the first two games patriots had to salvage that thing on Sunday it really feels like a different team and one of the big reasons is this man right here Ryan Weidman ground ball up the middle sliding play made by Graybeck but he is not going to be able to gun down Weidman had his glove for just a split second weidman’s got great speed able to get there you got a man on two outs for Ethan Lazama yeah and you mentioned the the stolen bases and and the speed of Ryan Weidman well he’s got 25 already this year and Greybeck was going to have a play he was going to have to field it cleanly but even then I don’t think he would have had a chance at first base so you know look for the Hill Toppers to put guys in motion especially Widman over there at first base with two outs he’s got a massive lead bucknham keeps an eye on this has been a problem for DBU pitchers keeping runners at bay against Micah they’re a perfect eight of eight basters have almost been successful 82% of the time this year against Patriot pitching there’s a throw over he’s back easily that’s a a huge frame too from Weidman at 65 so it may only take him it feels like maybe four or five strides to get to second base and he is not shy about his lead at first lzama fouls it off he gets behind 0 and one senior who was born in Guam started his college career Gulf State Gulf Coast State College originally started his high school career at East Lake High School in Chula Vista California yo one in on the hands close a ball and a strike it’s another one here in Lzama that’s in the top 10 in Conference USA in hitting comes in tonight batting at 364 be hard to find a better top four than what you see here from the Hill Toppers the biggest question tonight when you look at the numbers of Western Kentucky is how battle tested is this team yes the numbers are eye popping they were tested on Tuesday against Vanderbilt and they took him to extra innings they’ve had this series circled on their calendar there’s a throw over they got him weidman was way off the bag and Bugnham helps his own cause and picks off Weidman for the third out so no runs to hit no errors and nobody left bucknham gets Widman here it is one more time on the tag from Krauss huge lead and it wasn’t close scoreless as we go to the bottom of the first in Dallas head to the bottom of first game one between DBU and Western Kentucky two teams and tied the top of the Conference USA standings here’s Dan Heath’s lineup tonight for the Patriots michael Dalo has found himself a home in the leadoff spot he’s back over at third base tonight in the hot corner tom P also the welcome addition back to the lineup you see Tom there the DH Grant Jay became the all-time home run litter in debut baseball history on Tuesday jay in the third spot humphre in cleanup role then it’s Krauss landon Underh Hill gets the start tonight joey Nered is out with a nagging in injury katon Grady moves to left then it’s Heathner and Graybeck to wind up this Patriot order for a team that’s hitting 311 as a club they’re going to see one of the best arms right now in college baseball and right-hander Jack Bennett yeah all the talk about this Western Kentucky offense but they’ve got a guy at the top of their rotation that has been just about untouchable this year a perfect 5-0 and a sparkling.86 erra that’s only three earned runs allowed all season long and 31 and a third 32 strikeouts for Jack Bennett only the six walks you see the mix it’s a true five pitch mix and he’ll throw any of them he’s got the fast ball the sinker the cutter the slider the change up but that erra second in the nation as the Paduca Kentucky native 6’2 210 lbs in his junior season is going after this Patriot offense and take a look at this pickoff again you see Ryan Weidman there in center field but boy Bucknham helps his cause and guns down Widman that is a monster lead by Weidman at first base and Bucknham with a nice job on the pickoff yeah you could even see that as he made the move to go to first Weidman was taking his extra step he might have been ready to go on that pitch so the Patriots picked a good time to throw over to first base and erase a very dangerous hitter or rather a very dangerous uh runner with with a dangerous hitter at the plate here’s Bennett against Dalo mentioned Bennett at 86 on the ERA he is chasing a guy by the name of Phil Ryan who owns the all-time single season record at Western Kentucky at 0.85 so he is just a hundth of a point back from Ryan who pitched back in 1981 at Western Kentucky 01 to Dalo takes downstairs for a ball it is you saw that five pitch mix and it’s pretty balanced you can you can see anything in any count tonight from Bennett and you’re see Dalo there who’s closing in on 200 career hits transfer from Northwestern State who arrived last year takes on the corner and now it’s gone to one and two and it’s five pitches that you feel like they all kind of look the same you’re not going to see the radar gun light up it’s going to be in the low 90s but such a good mix great control you’ve already seen him be able to locate a breaking ball right on the outside corner he strikes out Dalo there’s the first out one up one down bennett gets the punch out well here’s the defense behind Jack Bennett here this evening it’s Joe Siero in left field ryan Weidman who we’ve been talking about in center Ethan Lzama is in right carlos Vasquez uh was the third baseman he moves over to second it’s him and Reed Howard up the middle have Henry Brown at first base kyle Hayes is your battery tom Pull back in the lineup tonight takes strike one p’s been nursing a little bit of a nagging hamstring injury something that’s bothered him see he’s quickly down 02 something that’s bothered him since the Tucson regional he came out Friday at New Mexico State with that injury in the seventh inning had to be pinch pinched run four so he’s missed the last three games back tonight he’s down 02 to Bennett strike three punched him out on three pitches boy Bennett what a start for the junior rightander out of Paduca Kentucky and this is a lot of what he’s done this year as he has just not let the Patriots get going really in the two starts that he’s had all season or in his career against DBU but here’s Grant Jay and what he did last night or rather on Tuesday night the three home runs to become DBU’s all-time home run leader two of those left in a hurry i think his furthest on Tuesday was 480 here he goes to right field that’s trouble lzama circles in he started back he’s got a long way to run here and it blows foul just be a long strike so Jay will head back get his bat in an 01 count against Bennett bennett is a guy last year that almost went the distance through it it went eight and two/3 against the Patriots gave up one run and struck out 11 so he’s given DBU [Music] fits you’re hoping for the Patriots that they don’t get that kind of version of Bennett tonight as he was absolutely brilliant he’s coming off five and two/3 scoreless innings against Sam Houston last Friday the only game that he’s really struggled this year Kennesaw State March 21st gave up four earned runs in three and two/3 innings and the only game this season that he’s allowed an earned run that is special stuff this late into the season his 01 to Jay down and away oh last year the numbers 6 and4 a 566 ERA for Bennett patriot fans wouldn’t believe that put up those kind of numbers at the end of the year after what they saw from him last year as here Jay takes a strike and as Mark Ren says he’s not going to wow you with light up the radar gun just a guy that’s athletic he competes on the mound just the location there of his breaking balls has been so difficult he has put it right on the corner one two is outside and because he has such pinpoint control if he goes off the plate a little bit you’re going to assume it’s a strike so maybe the hitter expands the strike zone a little bit what do you hear he’s having 2-2 is buried so Jay is taking it full now trying to hand it to Nate Humphre in that on deck circle bennett who started his college career as a reliever his freshman year back in 23 here comes the 3-2 and that’s just downstairs low to Jay who walks for the 24th time this year paty got a two out walk and it brings Nate Humphre up to the plate yeah just the seventh of the year for Jack Bennett it was close but you know Grant has shown an outstanding eye this season so just like what Western Kentucky did they got a runner with two outs weren’t able to do anything with it we’ll see if DBU can so here is Humphre who’s kind of done it all for DBU this year 358 batting average third on the team in that department eight home runs 32 RBI’s bennett’s first pitch and there on the corner well he became a part of some elite company in fact he’s the only member of this club 30 home runs 40 stolen bases he blasted his 30th career home run on Tuesday here he punches it widman on his horse and that’s going to get down in between him and Howard and Jay is going to motor to third big turn by Humphre they try to think that back throw to the first baseman Hayes and Humphre is there now the Pats have got something brewing on the corners with two out and you could tell just by the way that ball was hit it wasn’t hit well by Nathan Humphre sounded like it was a little bit off the bat great read by Grant Jay to realize he could get to third yeah you see him just throwing the bat at it and just got enough to get it over Howard you see the fake from Weidman he faked as if he was going to go to third then looked at first and Nathan Humphrey’s realizing uh-oh better hustle and get back to first base so a little uprising here with two away yeah big spot for Krauss team leader in RBI’s with 39 hitting 345 on the season a 441 hitter with runners in scoring position he’s also tops on the team and two out RBI’s with 19 see if it all adds up right here humphre is off with the pitch ross won’t make a throw like he was at least thinking about it couldn’t find the handle on it now DV’s got two in scored position i don’t feel like he was going to throw but he at least bluffed like he was hump will take that seven stolen base chance to drive in two two count krauss was hacking two balls in a strike 6’3 226-lb senior here in Chaitton Krauss who was born in New Zealand grew up for most of his life in Copel Texas just up the road here’s the 2-1 and Krauss hits it hard into right center weidman’s on his horse and it’s off of his glove krauss to second with a double two-run score and the Pats strike first in the bottom of the first well it was a lot of fun to see that ball trying to get down and watching the speed of Ryan Weidman in center field he can float and he got over there and it looked like he was going to track this down without having to go to a dive great swing from Trayon Krauss he hit it at 105 mph but keep an eye on the center fielder may have to do it after this uh after this next pitch but oh you see Weidman right there on his horse and somehow was not able to pull it in there’s a ground ball to the right side a diving play by Vasquez the throw to first is late here comes Krauss around third slides safe at home pats lead three nothing on some aggressive base running by Krauss who was being waved around by Cliff Pennington he never broke stride boy that is straight up aggression over there at third base from Cliff Pennington nice play by Vasquez to keep it in the infield but it almost looked like Hayes just assumed the runner was going to stay able to slide around the tag what a rally here with two outs for the Patriots now under Hill at first this one’s buried inside boy this unraveled quickly all of a sudden bennett was a strike away from going one two three and possibly striking out the side a borderline call grant Jay walked and then it’s been a single by Humphre the double by Krauss the infield single by Underh Hill now 3 0 and Grady chops this one to the turf vasquez comes on he’s got to hurry he gets Grady to retire the side but a great start to this one for DBU three runs three hits right out of the gates pats are on top three 0 and this one right off of the glove of Widman that scored two and that got the Pats on the board they lead it three nothing headed to the second [Music] it’s been a special first half of the season for Mark Ren’s Western Kentucky squad the Hill Toppers after their best start in school history winning 20 of their first 21 games and they’re looking to make a run of the postseason they feel like they’ve got the team makeup to do it one of the most prolific offenses in the game with top pitching staffs and an emerging star in center fielder Ryan Wyven how about this on Tuesday against Vanderbilt that in extra innings they would end up losing that game but we just saw Widman in center field and he nearly made a sensational catch how different that inning might look and one that you have to put an asterk by right now as we go to the second yeah and you could see the tremendous speed that he had out there in center and because of that play that he made on Tuesday in my mind I’m thinking he was going to track that down so a game of inches and the Patriots take advantage lzama takes a wild cut lazama was at the plate in the first when Ryan Weidman was picked off so Bucknham in kind of an unconventional one two three inning after giving out the two up sing two out single to Widman he picked him off here’s the 1-1 off the corner a three-man crew tonight here in Conference USA play connor Hogland’s a crew chief justin Duples at first juan Garza down the line at third bugn behind at two and one now he’s got up to two strikes eight-game hit streak coming in tonight for Lzama he’s hitting .367 over the last eight games bugnham’s got him at two and two blew him away with high heat 96 up and away second strike out for Bucknham that’s not the not the exact same style with Bucknham and what you’re seeing from uh from Jack Bennett but before we talk about that here here we go again with Weidman and see how close he was to making that catch i mean a half step away from changing things up but the point I was going to make it’s a little bit different in terms you know Putnham’s got more velocity but it’s two pitchers that have four or five different weapons in their arsenal that they can go to at any time it makes for really intriguing matchups this is Camden Ross junior catcher had three different guys behind home plate this year ross is a guy that D1 baseball rated him the number 96 college prospect because there’s a close pitch on off the corner the number 96 college prospect in this year’s MLB draft he’s playing in his 102nd career game tonight Western Kentucky he’s up 200 on Bucknham and now 3 and0 [Applause] that that stayed high and Bucknham walks him on four pitches so a rare four pitch walk for Micah a man on one out for Joe Siero well that’s the second time that Butam had fallen behind 3 0 was able to come back get Carlos Vasquez with that slider to to start the ball game but first free pass ross over at first base dealing with the the bottom four in the order siero came off the bench in the eighth inning on Tuesday against Vanderbilt drew a pinch hit walk but was in the starting lineup all three games last weekend at Sam Houston here he takes on the corner for a struck shows bunt there something again that Western Kentucky last year this is what they did constantly put pressure on you we’re not afraid to move runners in any situation sierra not showing bunt this time it’s not as common place now for for this year’s team 78 bunts most in the nation last year only 20 this year those numbers way down [Applause] 02 high and away and maybe a case of Mark Rarden just understanding the ball club that he had you know in his second year last year that’s one thing he he mentioned before the series is that he just feels like it’s it’s his guys it’s it’s what this coaching staff wants and you can start to see just that that temperament and that identity change a wild one but that has been the Achilles Hill of this Patriot pitching staff here the last couple of weeks it’s a free base that is only the second wild pitch though for Micah Bucknham that has not been something that he has struggled with no chance right there for Jay it’s the 36 of the season for the Patriots just to give you some perspective opposing pitchers this year have thrown 16 in games against EBU two and two to Siero in the number six spot he’s gone full [Music] [Applause] first base open siero at the plate three and two bucknham’s payoff pitch misses outside back-to-back walks so it brings a tying run to the plate kyle Hayes pretty rare for Micah Bucknham that’s you know he’s walked three a couple of times but you generally the backto back walk losing players like that doesn’t happen very often for him so two ball would be in order that’s another something that he’s been pretty good at this year yeah six of those that he’s induced he’s been more of a ground ball pitcher on balls in play 35 ground outs to 25 balls uh that have been flyyous this pitch high right now it’s just command that’s escaped him and Grant Jay is going to come out for a quick check don’t want this at any time but after you put three runs on the board against a guy that’s having a a historic season don’t want to come out and just give away bases so it’s funny grant Jay comes out there to talk it almost looks like Michael Michael Bucknham is leading the charge there those are two uh two of the best jay in his junior year from Sims Alabama one of the top prospects got a figure in this year’s draft and Michael Bucknham a guy that’s just been transformed the LSU transfer who came to DBU essentially with a fast ball and a curveball he’s added the slider and the change up he’s having a career year he’s gone from a reliever at LSU where he made 16 appearances to the Friday night Friday night ace here at DBU now one and0 to Hayes right now the fast ball is missing up you talked about it the walk numbers for Western Kentucky this is a team that is up there to swing the bat 132 walks it’s ninth fewest in the league there’s a strike yeah goes with the slider to be able to control it and find the strike zone so yeah as you referenced that fast ball he’s not able to control that he’s missing up above the letters hey he’s a veteran in this lineup seniors got runners at first and second up the middle and pass Greybeck boy and Humphrey’s kind of slipped and fell here comes the run home that ball gets by Krauss but it’s picked up by Jay a single for Hayes wku is on the board hayes 19th RBI of the year makes it a 3-1 ball game that ball smashed up the middle i thought with the positioning of Cody Greybeck it might end up going right to him but hit it 107 miles the Patriots are appealing something over at third they don’t think that Camden Ross hit third base i don’t I don’t think so and I I wonder if we’re going to see a step off in an appeal but again with only three umpires it’s perhaps unlikely they see it that ball hit 107 miles an hour off the bat and if Humphre doesn’t slip I would have loved to see that throw to the plate this is Reed Howard no indication right now that Puckham’s going to step off talk about this being a veteran lineup here is where you see some of the youth reed Howard is a true freshman from Ferdinand Indiana he broke in as a regular in the starting lineup as a true freshman at the end of February and he has been a mainstay starting at shortstop putting up respectable numbers at 295 average he’s got some power as well there’s a late strike call i thought it was a strike but then I thought it wasn’t going to be called a strike and it looked like at the very last second Connor Hogland said “Yeah I think that did hit the corner 0 and two to the freshman with the tying run at first big lead at second here’s the pitch swing and a miss bucknham got him on three pitches snapped the slider that time on Howard it’s his third punch out of the night it seemed like that at bat was over once that strike two call happened because had a young guy trying to figure out what Michael Bucknham’s going to be throwing and that slider just completely darts away from the right-handed hitting Howard here’s Henry Brown late addition to the lineup it was Austin Holler about an hour before game time we got a change holler was hitting ninth and playing third brother Holler was at second lzama was at third and they made that switch putting Brown in the hot corner moving Vasquez over to second got two out this is the number nine hitter in an important spot for Bugnham he’d much rather face Vasquez to lead off the third that’s punch foul brown’s only starting his 12th game of the [Music] year it’s the highest his batting average has been at 240 since he was hitting 250 just six games into the season transfer from Indiana State and Henry Brown at one and one chopped it foul now Bucknham’s got him at a ball and two strikes it’s Joe Siero at second base who drew a walk kyle Hayes over at first and Brown at the plate we’ve seen the fast ball for a strikeout up we’ve seen the slider called for a strike and then the last one of Howard the swing and a [Applause] miss the one two from Bucknham dialed up the fast ball but a little too amped up already 40 pitches for Bucknet get 41 and only 15 in the first so they’re working them here in the second [Applause] [Music] two- two struck him out down and away and Bugnham’s got four punch outs tonight through two innings so the Hill Toppers get a run the RBI single from Kyle Hayes but Bugnham comes back gets two huge punch outs as we head to the bottom of the second pats still lead it three to one [Music] the second this is a key weekend series between two teams that you figured to be in the hunt for a Conference USA title this year as we enter the third weekend of league play here’s a look at the Conference USA standings right now you got four teams tied for the top spot western Kentucky DBU you see there FIU’s had a great first half of the season louisiana Tech you always figure them to be in the mix well it is solid you got really I think eight nine solid teams there sam Houston has really struggled but it is going to be a fun race and this ought to be a great weekend actually have a game that already has gone final louisiana Tech beating FIU in a walk-off so they’re going to be the first of five wins in conference but yeah it’s was those three teams Law Tech Western Kentucky DBU figured have a really good chance there at the at the top of the standings it’s the three that were at the top last year western Kentucky looked like a W for a while they were going to win the regular season crown sort of stumbled to the finish line but they’re having a great year this year picking up where they left off breaking ball stuff right there from Bennett to get ahead to Luke Heftner good take from Luke he was 0 for three on Tuesday after really a big weekend in Los Cusus he went five for 12 against New Mexico State had a home run senior short stop big swing and a foul tip comes in tonight one RBI shy of the century mark for his career making his 183rd career start got three on the right side of the infield against him and a strike three call on the outside corner camden Ross painted that one at the knees and Bennett gets his third punch out of the night at 89 and looking at it live thought it was a bit off the the outside part of the plate but I think that did catch some of the corners so you know Jack Bennett he started out inning strong he had backto-back strikeouts to begin the first able to freeze Luke Heer there it’s just what happened after those first two strikeouts cody Grayback grayback’s found himself a home in the starting lineup and really is your true utility guy here he’s making his first start of the season at second base we’ve seen him at short at third base he’s been the DH only place he hasn’t played in the infield has been at first behind home plate guy that started his college career at Baylor he was a Baylor in 2022 played nine games as a true freshman transferred to Midland College she had some opportunities coming out of Midland outside of of DBU here he sprays it foul witchah State Cal Berkeley UC Santa Barbara were all calling for Greybeck he elected to stay in the Lone Star State and he’s been at DBU the last two years 02 from Bennett blow it in his father Brian a 19th round pick of the Angels out of San Diego State back in 1990 his uncle Craig Raybeck 12 years in the big leagues well baseball family through and through one two from Bennett that hit him cody Grey just finds a way to get on base he’s a guy that’s hitting 313 this year his numbers he’s having the best year that he’s ever had and Cody Grreyback hit by the pitch gets on that’s the fourth time he’s been hit this season yeah he also came in today with an on base percentage right at 500 and if you’re the number nine hitter you’re trying to set the table for the top of that order job well done by Greybeck one-on-one out for Michael Dalo called strike one doy struck out on a sweeping slider from Bennett back in the first second time through the order for the Patriots dalo right center field that’s down gray back a chance to get to third here comes the throw from Lzama he’s got a cannon the throw up the line and Cody is out at third boy what a throw from Lzama who has thrown out four this year he has got a gun out at right field and there’s two [Applause] now looking at it in real time i was a little surprised to see Greybeck tested out there at second base and we’ll see if we get a should get a really good look at this throw from Lazama and by the time he gets it Greybeck’s not even at second yet so it took throw that wasn’t even right on line kind of pulls him towards the third base or the the home plate side of that bag that’s still a really strong throw out there in right so a man on the toll at first two out here’s Tom Pool bennett got him on three pitches in the first and this one snagged on a rocket right there to Kyle Hayes right at the bag if that gets past Hayes it is down into the corner and Doy’s off to the races instead no runs a hit no errors a man left we’re through two headed to the third the Pats lead at 3-1 two of the best in the country last night LSU and Oklahoma two top 10 teams lsu getting out to an early lead and really all their damage was done there in that third inning the real story was on the mound jared Jones or excuse me Aerson eight innings it was Jared Jones who had the single early but he goes a complete game 14 strikeouts through 135 pitches electric stuff as LSU moves their record to 28 and3 as they take game one of that series against Oklahoma well that is one of the best pitching matchups you’ll see in in college baseball not only this weekend this year across the board kate Anderson LSU you saw that and then Kais Witherspoon for Oklahoma outstanding as well just giving up the two runs there’s Micah Bucknham who will face the top of the order it’s Carlos Vasquez the crowd not happy with that first call as it was called the ball down and away from home plate umpire Connor Hogland it’s Vasquez who struck out to start the ball game after going up three and 0 against Micah Bucknham that one’s called a strike i think he got him mixed up and that one was lower I believe than the first one here’s the first pitch that’s a little closer the second one was lower and I guess it all evens out it’s one ball and one strike here to Vasquez takes off the plate outside there at 88 miles an hour from Mike Micah Bugnham again 15 pitches in the first he needed 27 in the second an RBI single from Kyle Hayes got the Hill Toppers on the board up and in and so Vasquez has a three ball count for the second time today originally out of Sao Paulo Brazil in his red shirt junior season a red shirt last year with the Hill Toppers so his second season at Western Kentucky but his first to get in the game and he will be on with a walk so uncharacteristic so far for Bucknham it’s a season high that he’s tied with three walks today leadoff man is on and cannot mess around with this part of the order if you’re Michael Buckner and Thomas Marsala will see if he can make Bucknham pay for that free pass vasquez at first marcala who grounded out to first base he will step in from the left side getting 365 on the season showing bunt and the pitch is right down the middle for a strike at nothing and one marcala did not fully get into that starting lineup until uh March the 1st he played just three of the nine games in February but he has been a staple ever since butam checks over on Vasquez but already has a pickoff today he got Ryan Weidman to end the first inning but Marcala 0 for four this week he went 0 for three a couple of strikeouts against Vandy on Tuesday ball and a strike now to the number two hitter in the order a team averaging just over eight and a half runs per game top 10 in average with the 328 batting average as a team getting on as a team at a 426 clip marcalo fouls the fast ball back ball in two strikes here for Micah Butnham who has won three straight starts went seven innings against UTSA in Middle Tennessee battled through five innings last week against New Mexico State in the air to left center field going to be a tough play for Katon Grady but he’s got it he’ll throw to first base going to be a little closer than I thought that Vasquez is safe nice play by Katon one away yeah off the bat i think it’s trouble grady’s got to get on his horse he’s got a good read on it grady another one of those utility guys that will play anywhere he made it look routine this ends up being a little closer the good throw right there not bad keep Gradyama had to hurry hurry back he might have thought that one was going to drop but now here’s Ryan Weidman had an infield single but then was picked off of first base to end the first there he is a check of the runner weidman extended his hit streak out to five games with that infield base hit a transfer out of Georgia Highlands College putting up player of the year type numbers another throw and a great play by Chaitton Krauss to keep that from getting away from him but does have one error on the season and Krauss ensuring at least for now it stays that way as you see Vasquez seven of eight in the stolen base department this pitch is upstairs to begin the atbat to Weidman yeah the overall steel numbers 73 for Western Kentucky but it’s 25 for Weidman and then Vasquez is the next closest to him on the team with just seven so the majority comes from the man at the plate who takes a big league hack butam went off speed there this is a free swinger only nine walks but you can see he puts the ball in play when he hits it he hits it hard 459 can you find a hole in his swing he went curveball there on that last pitch had a big cut at it he hits and can hit with with some power his ops up over,200 he’s got a 504 on base and a 787 slugging percentage he’s got a man at first base here patriots would love a double play ball weidman has not hit one this year micah Bucknham has induced six right now Mike is having a hard time finding the zone with the fast ball the the curveball the slider have been his pitches that he’s been able to land the most he come back to it here at two and two he does swinging a miss pitch well out of the strike zone but Weidman is fooled and Micah Bucknham’s got his fifth strike out he takes advantage of his aggressiveness that slider’s way off the plate two strikes widman’s got to protect that one almost started off the plate widman not close and a huge punch out anytime you can get him well four out of the five strikeouts have been on the breaking ball for Micah Bucknham he’s got two away and he’s got Ethan Lazama who is 0 for one he struck out his first time up patriots got all three runs in the first inning did it with two outs western Kentucky got a run right back in the top of the second first pitch now to Lazama that’s in there for strike one as he went with a change up scoreboard said 98 but I think that was a change up that he threw either way it’s a strike and it’s 0 and one i would love for it to be 98 this ball is smoked into right field the base hit station to station for Carlos Vasquez oh so second and third or excuse me first and second here with two away and Camden Ross coming up well there’s just so much danger in this lineup lzama in the cleanup spot is one of the most prolific hitters in this lineup that one finds a barrel you’re fortunate it’s just a base hit that’s nearly a great play by Grayback another step to his left he probably has it in the patch the back of the dugout it’s the hardest hit ball we’ve seen today that left the bat at 111 m an hour from Lzama he’s got a nineame hit streak he’s over now at first base at second is Vasquez and it’s Camden Ross to the plate trying to bring the Hill Toppers a little bit closer he’s now seen five pitches and they’ve all been out of the zone he walked in the second came around to score on the RBI single from Kyle Hayes that ball’s in the air to right could be trouble landon Underh Hill is to the track and he is not going to have a play as that’s going to leave the yard camden Ross with an opposite field home run off of Micah Bucknham and the Hill Toppers have jumped in front and it’s now 4-3 on a night where the wind is blowing in this seemed to have some carry to it camden Ross one of the veterans in this lineup his second home run of the year and they’ve got some pop in this lineup 33rd home run of the year for Western Kentucky all the momentum right now with the Hill Toppers after that swing again you go back to the free pass of Vasquez two of the four runs now have been guys that have walked second home run of the season for Ross rbi’s 17,8 and 19 and Western Kentucky takes their first lead of the evening as both aces have given up a three spot there’s strike two here to Joe Siero but trying to end this inning after that home run siero walked his first time up it was the second of what has turned into three walks for Bucknham and as Reagan mentioned two of those three have scored fast ball upstairs it’s a vocal first base dugout for Western Kentucky but also a pretty vocal contingent of fans it’s not not a huge number but the ones that are here they are making their presence known as Western Kentucky has that one-run lead after the home run from Ross now two balls in two strikes they have really worked this pitch count you know Micah was efficient in the first 15 pitches second inning 27 pitches only 13 of those were for strikes so they’ve been able to to work him find a spot that they’re they’re hunting and when they get it they’ve been doing able to do some damage here this there’s a swing and a miss strike three from Michael Bucknham as he gets the fast ball by him at 94 but the damage done as Camden Ross for the second time this season gets one up and out of here this is a three-run shot and it gives the Hill Toppers the lead 43 as we make our way to the bottom of the third well there is Joey J that is the grandfather of the new DBU home run king Grant J and this is Joey Jay pitching in the World Series in 1961 as he helped lead the Reds to their first National League pennet since 1940 and he threw a complete game four hitter at Yankee Stadium you see him striking out Roger Maris it was the only game the Reds won in that World Series and it was Joey Jay who went the distance picked up the win 6-2 there in Yankee Stadium and boy what a legacy to be carrying on as Grant Jay now steps to the plate 13 years in the big leagues for his grandfather Joey from 1953 to 1960 with the Milwaukee Braves with the Reds from 61 to 66 in a 1961 season that was special and uh it’s a relationship that Grant Jay did not take for granted and for a little bit more on that relationship let’s uh send it over to Alexis de Lag Garza who spoke with Grant earlier today thanks Brendan yeah I mean who else will be highlighting today other than Grant Jay um whenever I chatted with him the first thing I asked just how awesome Tuesday was for him and he said he really didn’t know how to describe it any other way than unbelievable i mentioned seeing all the guys in the dugout just lining up to give him a hug and he said that just speaks to what they have going on here the brotherhood they have and they are truly so much more than teammates and when I asked him about his grandfather Joey Jay he told me he had a lot of impact on him but what made him so great was the impact he made on him even outside of baseball and the thing he remembers most about him was the role model he was not only as a grandfather but as a solid Christian man always pointing him in the right direction and Grant said said the time uh they talked the most about baseball was just before he passed away but hearing about all his great experiences he said it was just really awesome and getting to hear about it all from him well thanks Alexis and yeah Grant’s grandfather Joey passed away in September and his first two years as a Patriot we had a chance to talk to Grant and he mentioned just you know whenever he’s able to talk to his grandfather a lot of times he didn’t want to talk about baseball just wants to talk to his grandfather and what a special relationship there and he was able to see Grant Jay hit plenty of home runs in his time at DBU and quite a guy to follow in the footsteps of what a legend red’s Hall of Famer Joey J three and two as Grant worked a walk his first time up he’s worked it full here against Jack Bennett it’s a big big inning right here this Patriot lineup after the three spot from Western Kentucky it all starts here with Jay who’s backto back full counts that can spin it and he’s on so Grant Jay his 25th walk of the season that ties him for the team lead with Tom P patriots have the leadoff man on here in the third well Grant’s at first base and a little bit more about his grandfather there you go 13-year big league career a lot of nines in those overall stats 99 career wins 99 career strikeouts for Joey Cincinnati Red’s Hall of Fame member and here is Nathan Humphre who was able to take for strike one and the thing that I thought was interesting too is just there was a one year where Joey Jay was a all-star 1961 he won 21 games he had 14 complete games that year there’s a sky high fly ball shallow left field joe Siero is going to be taking charge here and he makes the catch and left for the first out of the inning but yeah 14 complete games in 61 and then he came back in 1963 and he threw 16 complete games i think the game has changed a little bit it’s a little different right you weren’t going situational matchups in the fifth sixth innings there was no such thing as a pitch count if there was they sure weren’t thinking about it what a storyried career for Grant’s grandfather here’s Chaitton Krauss two RBI double his first time up and we have hit 7:00 here at Horner Ballpark we pause for the plane of taps [Music] [Music] but it remains one of the best traditions in college baseball 7:00 every night at Horner Ballpark plane of taps if you hear it right Patriots will stop western Kentucky steps off as well and we honor those that have lost their lives for their country right over that hill be on the centerfield wall at DBU as the DFW National Cemetery so back to action chaitton Krauss takes down and away one ball in one strike got to find a way to start working Jack Bennett something that Western KY has been really good in the first three innings against Micah Buckn be able to get his pitch count up you see Bennett right now at 43 he was efficient in that second inning as Krauss hits this one into left field he’s got a two hit day chad’s having himself a week he had three hits on Tuesday he’s got two hits today and the Patriots in business here first and second only one away it’s just so big and strong and the play coverage that he has this is a pitch that watch where it ends up here from Bennett kind of out on the corner and he pulls that ball he hits it hard at 102 a screamer over the shortstop now one away here’s Landon Underh Hill who picked up an RBI he was able to beat out an infield single chaitton Krauss never stopped running from second base with two outs there in the first strike one to Landon Underh Hill making his ninth start to the season 280 average this is his 26th at bat of the year in tight against Jack Bennett and you mentioned the pitch count as you’re approaching 50 for Bennett but he threw 21 in the first was able to get himself back on track with just 11 in the second and his defense a big part of that cody Griebeck was thrown out trying to go first to third on a single to right landon hits this one in the air to right center field weidman is back and he’s going to stop just in front of the track to make the catch grant Jay will move up to third base ball hit well by Underh Hill but he just missed it there’s two down if the conditions are different here at Her Ballpark that ball might have a chance cooler temperatures in the low 60s the wind slightly in from center tonight air’s a little thicker see where Widman catches this ball just shy of the track so two down katon Grady will try and even this thing up got Grant Jay led off the inning with a walk he’s now at third chaitton Krauss singled he’s at first and Katon Grady takes for strike one [Applause] this is the third straight start for Jack Bennett in the uh the number one role last three Fridays last week against Sam Houston five and two/3 scoreless and then he gave up four total runs there against Kennesaw State as a the slowest stolen base you’ll ever see jayton Krauss was trying to draw a throw but Western Kentucky was not interested but Krauss will get to second base kind of sort of tiptoeing about halfway to second base just begging Ross to throw that ball they weren’t biting well now a base hit can give you the lead and Grady hits this one off the uh handle of the bat over to third base play is made by Brown and that’ll end the inning so the Patriots threaten they leave a couple of runners in scoring position we have played three and it’s Western Kentucky with a one- nothing lead here in game one well it’s a cool evening in Dallas temperature right around 60° game one of this threeame series and just glad that it’s dry enough for us to be playing some baseball western Kentucky has a 4-3 lead the big blast a three-run home run from Camden Ross off of Micah Bucknham who has given up those four runs he has struck out six he’s walked three that ties a season high and he’s thrown 65 pitches as he will try to keep the Hill Toppers off the scoreboard for the first time since the first inning it’ll be the bottom three in the order do up kyle Hayes had the first RBI of the game for the Hill Toppers an RBI single and so Hayes followed by Reed Howard and Henry Brown scheduled to swing it against Micah Bucknham against a 25 and4 Western Kentucky squad having one of their best years in program history trying to get back to the NCAA tournament for the first time in 16 years there’s strike one to Kyle Hayes what a start it was for Western Kentucky 20- one out of the gates had a 15game win streak believe that was second best in program history that went all the way up until the start of conference play lost in extras to Vanderbilt on Tuesday had a couple of tough losses this year in fact three of their four losses have been by just one run hayes fouls this one off at nothing and two i think it’s pretty clear from the the first four innings this is a good ball club the question was how tested were they and well just based on the numbers they had only played four games against teams with a winning record this year they’re 2-2 against those they’re 23-2 against teams under 500 as Hayes hits this one in the air to right it’s a long run for Underh Hill he is going to slide into the wall and he hits it hard well that is a scary moment and everyone holding their breath here i think I see a smile which is which is a good sign but boy that is that’s a scary play well he just never broke stride padded wall but that is a a a stone brick wall on the other side of that and he hit it going full speed you’ve lost right now joey Nerid’s out of the lineup landon Underh Hill’s been banged up he had a great start to the year but has been out of the lineup dealing with an injury this is a guy that that’s just kind of had injuries throughout his career take a look at Luke Horton the team trainer out there with him right now dan Ener joins the Frey as well and the guy just going full out and wanting to make a play good to see him up and hopefully he’s able to stay in the ball game i think he is well you got to love the effort from number 13 he just kind of slows up just a bit right there but that is a hard collision into that wall you’re worried that he hit his head it looked like it was more of his knee that was bothering him yeah you can see sort of the buckle as he at the last second tried to to slow himself down everyone around him is smiling he’s not right i don’t know he doesn’t find it funny just a long strike here from Kyle Hayes the count will remain at no balls and two strikes but again talking about Western Kentucky and and the season they’ve had the four teams they’ve played with a winning record Tennessee Tech and Southern Illinois runuling both of them including a 21-2 win over the Saloois and then losing an extra innings to Vanderbilt and Murray State both one-run losses hayes a swing and a miss downstairs on the soft stuff for Micah Bucknham and he picks up his seventh strikeout one of his best pitches of the night great bite 85 that might tell you that right hand maybe the curve ball right there he just buries it good pitch to Hayes to start the Feels like the majority of the the breaking balls we’ve seen have been more the slider that had almost the more 126 trajectory to indicate the curve ball but effective either way seven strikeouts here’s Reed Howard he struck out on three pitches back in the second as Howard’s average right now at 291 freshman out of Ferdinand Indiana grounds this one routinely out to short heafner’s got it and there’s two down in inning number four it’ll be Henry Brown that will come to the plate he also struck out back in the second inning this Western Kentucky offense we’ve seen just the one extra base hit today that’s the home run but as we mentioned in the open they are number three in the nation in doubles this year they have hit 77 of them this season and this ball is hit in the air and that’s got a bid for extra bases humphre is going to get there in time hit on the nose by Brown but the speedy Humphre tracks it down and that will end a one two three frame going to the bottom of the fourth western Kentucky still holding on to a one-run lead well number 17 DBU trailing by a score of 4 to3 as we go to the bottom of the fourth and gives us a chance to look around the rest of the top 25 some of those scores from around the nation showed you the LSU Oklahoma game from last night lsu winning that one two to nothing they’ve got an early four nothing lead on the Sooners at Lel Mitchell they’re trying to win that series georgia and Texas that’s a marquee match about as marquee as it gets still scoreless in the third duke North Carolina renewing their rivalry and then the top of the SEC in the bottom of the SEC which is hard to believe between&m and Tennessee 4 and still in the fifth inning 8-1 in conference the Volunteers the Aggies are 1 and8 in SEC play hard to believe for a team that started number one preseason a consensus number one in every poll Texas and Aggie squad and if the season ended today they’d be on the outside looking in yeah they it would it’s going to take some really good baseball the last half to make it where they don’t have to win the tournament to get in yeah big shock of course the change in coaches team that went to College World Series nearly won it last year an 0 and2 here to Luke Heafner is Jack Bennett has settled in since giving up the three in the first it was Krauss with a two RBI double in the first landon Underh Hill had a RBI base hit but since then it’s been a couple of scattered hits as Heafner grounds this one routinely out to second vasquez originally the third baseman he’s the second baseman today now with the lineup change he makes the play and there’s one down in the bottom of the fourth not only the incredible offense for Western Kentucky their ERA trails only that Tennessee Volunteer team team ERA at 259 coming in today that’s second in the country behind Tennessee at 248 as a team here’s Cody Greybeck was hit by a pitch his first time up and then was thrown out trying to get to third on a single from Michael Dalo as he will take strike one quickly in a hole at no balls in two strikes bennett only 57 pitches only struck out three he’s walked two beck fouls this one off and out of play been it all three years with the Hill Toppers mainly a reliever his freshman year had more of a dual roll last year but then turned into a steady presence in the starting rotation as there’s a line drive to right chest foul by Cody Greybeck he had his eyes on extra bases but he’s out in front of it [Music] another look here ball was hit well but clearly fouled [Music] well Bennett went 22 innings to begin this season with an erra of zero he did not allow an earned run the first 22 innings this ball’s hit in the air center field weidman comes in makes the catch for the second out of the inning well Weidman was playing so shallow right there with the wind blowing in with Greybeck at the plate he he can play in more a lot of times that ball might have a chance to get down but where Widman was positioned was a routine play well two down for Michael Dalo patriots all three of their runs came with two outs they’ll look to try and duplicate what they did in the first inning as there’s a slider on the outside corner for Bennett and it’s been impressive his ability to get ahead with a multitude of pitches he just puts himself in the driver’s seat immediately because you can’t sit on any one pitch doy got a fast ball and hits it foul oh he had hit number 197 his last time up in the second three away from getting to 200 he’s extend the on base streak to 19 games a little bit of a delay as waiting for that ball in foul territory to be cleared now we’re ready to go daddy able to lay off a good breaking ball second start for Bennett in his career against the Patriots he went eight and two/3 allowed one run last year dalo hits this one pretty sharply but played easily by Howard he fires and the inning is over so the Patriots go one two three for the first time this evening we have played four at Horner Ballpark series opener between uh two of the top teams in Conference USA it’s a one-run lead for Western Kentucky it’s been a historic start to Patriot legend Ryan Johnson’s major league career last week he became just the second player in big league history to make his debut on opening day without spending a day in the minors then we saw him earn his first career save on Monday against St louis and then the very next day he notched his first career win as R.J just continues to ride his name in the Major League Baseball record books as he begins his big league career what a start it has been for Ryan Johnson this time last year was pitching against this Western Kentucky squad yeah he would have been on the mound in game one he was out battled by Jake Bennett he was in that game last year top of the order this a big inning for Michael Bucknham trying to keep pace with Bennett jack Bennett has gone three consecutive innings in which he’s not allowed to run he’s given up that three spot in the first as Lzama or the basquez hammers this one foul here’s a another look we talk about the history for Ryan Johnson he’s the first American League pitcher since to get a win and a save in the first three games holiday back in 198 is doing right now rj here’s the 01 fouled away holiday won maybe a few saw young awards in his day there was a stretch during uh guess the the late as I guess when the Rangers were starting to get real good that every every trade deadline I was praying for Roy Holidayiday 02 from Buckdam buried ball and two strikes well the Angels have got a couple of guys out of Conference USA formerly Conference USA at least in Florida Atlantic dolan Shuell who’s having himself quite a career yeah and he had quite a track to the big leagues himself is the same year that he was drafted he was already hitting in the top of that Angels lineup he went it was close justin Duplexes said that he offered at it vasquez retired that’s eight strikeouts now for Vasquez this one was close you can see that Vasquez is in complete disagreement he may have an argument here see if we can if you can be able to tell from this view here i don’t know that one from the you obviously want to see it from the first base side but that there if I’m standing and having to make that call from where I was sitting i think he did that one’s a little little harder to tell and there’s two strikeouts for Vasquez today that he didn’t agree on that final call big swinging a miss by Marcala well Bugnham got what he needed in the fourth and that’s an eight pitch inning and all eight pitches were strikes that after he started that inning with 65 pitches he’s now up to 78 marcales shoots that the other way base hit his first hit of the night that will set the table for Ryan Weidman well he beat the shift patriots had three on the right side of the diamond and that ball’s hit almost in the normal spot where Luke Heapner would be but Michael Dalo was the only on the left side of the infield that’s a good piece of hitting from Marsala yeah it’s a routine play if Luke’s on that side of the field oh now you have to deal with Weidman singled his first at bat it was an infield single then struck out his last time up he starts him with a fast ball that might be the only fast ball that Weidman sees he He did not see much of the express in his last at bat it was a heavy dose of off speed stuff eventually got him to chase a slider way off the plate wideman out of Marietta Georgia the seventh highest batting average in the country coming in tonight that’s a wild one and Marcala to second so Bugnham who came in tonight with only with only just one wild pitch has thrown two of those command has been an issue at times tonight the three walks two on pitches you look at Weidman’s numbers boy this guy does it all power average second in the league in RBI’s the stolen bases 25 of 32 maybe the closest comparison for Patriot fans would be a guy like a Delin Granberg although Develin didn’t have those kind of stolen base numbers at this time of the season he did towards the end of the year but yeah I think just looking at the offensive numbers that’s kind of the only comparison you can make that one’s off the end of the bat this is not going to be easy bugged him over and a great job of covering bats will gladly take that even though the runner moves over to third base if you can retire Ryan wide then that’s a win there’s two out i got a little bit nervous there on the ground ball cuz you saw how far off the bag Krauss was but then Micah Bucknham he had to turn on the jets to get there and Widman making that a close play love the effort there well the question now becomes how do you pitch Ethan Lazaba cleanup hitter one of the top sluggers on this team he’s got great protection behind him and Ross who’s already hit the home run sky to right center should be routine humphre camps under it and Bucknham gets out of the inning so the Hill Toppers strand a runner at third base no damage done bucknham’s through five tonight got a one-run game here in the opener in Dallas between DBU and Western [Music] Kentucky point of this one in game one kind of what we expected close game between two of the top teams in the league pat’s got it going early here this all with two outs the big hits for DV jaden Krauss’s double ryan Weidman just had to go that one mistake but Jack Bennett he gave up the three runs in the first he has been able to settle in he’s put up three straight zeros uh he’s retired the last five so DBU is going to have to break that rhythm and try to get this game even well it’ll be Pull Jay and Humphre big bats coming here against Jack Bennett the junior out of Paduka Kentucky who has been dialed in since giving up those three runs with two outs it’s the only inning in which he’s thrown more than 20 pitches and he’s put up zeros the last three innings he’s given up just two hits a single to Dalo and then a base hit to Krauss here’s P the first pitch the home half of the fifth is in there for strike one tom came in this weekend with the top on base percentage in Conference USA at 525 next pitch inside corner bennett has just consistently gotten ahead tonight here he is 02 to pull he’s thrown six pitches to Tom and they’ve all been strikes tom lined out sharply to the first baseman Hayes his last time up and at 02 he fouls it off senior out of Calgary Alberta Canada and pull working here against the junior right-hander and Bennett he’s getting ready to throw pitch number 66 off the corner trying to get on for Grant Jay the one-two just inside well that is where they really tried to work pool inner half down and in got him to 02 first time and the this time here Tom battling back two- two pitch just inside well Camden Ross held that one for Connor Hogan he’ll give you that late strike call but now it’s three and two just continuing to pound [Applause] inside big pitch here 3-2 to pull fouled away been at three strikeouts on the night and those three strikeouts came in the first eight batters that he faced here he is at 3-2 to pull again that one shot right back at him what a snag by Bennett oh that was a bullet at 103 and how in the world did Jack Bennett make that play there’s one down now in the fifth 103 up the gut and there are two balls that Tom has smoked that have been grabbed just like that what a play oh my your glove just in the right place at the right time i don’t even think Jack Bennett could believe it just happened to be in the right spot he held on to it that’s a great play you know one thing Mark Rarin raves raves about is his athleticism and you see it there here’s Grant Jay and he is going deep into center field widman is just short of the wall and he’s got it as Grant nearly tied the game up on one swing yeah most days this season that ball’s leaving the yard with the more pitcher friendly type of of weather tonight that ball hit 101 off the bat but stays in the yard so two away wait two loud outs here in the fifth the the rocket off the bat of Pool this deep shot from Jay here’s Humphre who’s one for two and Humphre watch is low and inside for a ball humphrey singled and stole a bag in the first uh that stolen base for Nate don’t want to pass this up he’s now tied for fourth in program history in stolen bases he ties Luke Bandy luke played here at DU from 2017 to 19 43 stolen bases for Humphre what a career i mean the numbers that Hump is putting up he’ll go down as one of the all-time greats in Patriot baseball history here’s a 200 up and in he is having a career year 358 batting average he’s got a chance to eclipse his career highs and home runs RBI’s doubles three 0 he watches for a strike and all that said offensively Dan Heath calls him the best defensive centerfielder he’s ever coached we got two of the best defensive center fielders definitely in the conference maybe in the country in this series this weekend sky down the left field line back of third brown over yeah you’re seeing two of the best this weekend him and Ryan Weidman be interesting to see where Humphre goes in the draft as a senior widman’s got a chance to be a very high draft pick as a junior mark Ren says he is he’s very raw coming out of junior college his the ceiling on Weidman is extremely high put three on the right side of the infield now with Brown the third baseman to the right is second 3-2 to Humphre that’s low humps on and Chad Krauss will come up with the tying run at first base third walk of the night from Bennett that’s the second straight week that Bennett has walked three and uh that’s season high for him in fact he had only walked three batters total before the three that he walked against Sam Houston last week so Jaden Krauss has got two hits tonight off of Bennett he’s been the one that’s been able to solve the mysteries there’s a quick throw over the back ross has got a strong arm behind home plate coming in tonight only six attempts against Ross and they’ve used three different catchers behind home plate as there’s another check of Humphre Krauss against Bennett this a great battle here with two outs leading RBI man in Conference USA now with 41 RBI’s spin tries to pitch him away krauss went to right center field with the double in the first had a line drive single to left in the third and Dylan Napoleon pitching coach for WKU has come out he’s going to vis get a visit here with Bennett there’s no activity in that Hill Toppers bullpen i say that now there’s a right hand lucas Hartman throwing there’s They’re going to go to Hartman they sure are boy that’s a little surprising interesting if Hartman can get out of the gate got to pull there we go pull would be better there it is all right here it goes lucas Hartman who will come in for Bennett it kind of a surprising move here been where he was pitchwise but Krauss has kind of had his number maybe Napoleon’s got a hunch here with Hartman so we’ll come back to Dallas 4-3 Western Kentucky got two outs and the tying run at first base when we return new pitcher on the mound catches us a little bit off guard as Jack Bennett he gave up the three runs in the first he had been outstanding since so he ends up going four and two/3 giving up three runs all earned on five hits walks three strikeouts three 78 pitches and a a 1-0 count to Chaitton Krauss it’s Lucas Hartman who comes out of the bullpin the senior out of Bradenon Florida uh these are solid numbers and this is really where the Hill Toppers uh can can hurt you they’re very dangerous the the number of quality arms they have in the bullpen hartman’s one of them a 1.64 RA you see the batting average against at 130 and he’s been well traveled in his college career florida GF Coast Florida Southwestern the junior college ranks back in 23 he started his career at Western Carolina uh he’s been sharp lately against Sam Houston and Vanderbilt it’s been back-to-back scoreless outings three and a third inning and against Sam Houston he had the swing and miss stuff he struck out seven of the 10 batters he faced last weekend on Friday night and he is going to see Chad and Krauss he’s another one of these Hill Toppers pitchers five pitch mix that just seems to be what Dylan Napoleon develops yeah and that’s basically what you just saw from Jack Bennett so they liked whatever Hartman they thought he was going to be able to do against Chaitton who had some success as you mentioned against Bennett he inherits a one count so this batter is Hartman’s another throw over to Humphre really kept an eye on Humphre who’s stolen seven of nine on the year he’s got an average lead away from first the one swinging a miss he swung a ball too that was way off the plate and Chaitton had committed to the fact that he thought he was going to get a fast ball and instead he got that slider ended up way off the plate they don’t want hump going anywhere do they it’s been a number of throws over there to keep him close here comes the 1-1 he comes right back to that slider chaitton wasn’t biting this time two hit night for Krauss seven times this year he’s had three hits in a game most recently Tuesday night boy again if you go when that slider’s thrown you got a great chance of getting there that’s all that Chaitton has seen so far from Hartman that came in on him he’s gone 3-1 that’s a breaking ball that he was not able to control it’s kind of a violent delivery from Hartman 5’10” 211B [Applause] senior 3-1 pitch fast ball count there it is 87 right there from Hartman that’s not the fast ball fast ball’s got some good ride to it 90 to 93 from Hartman three and two humphrey’s off with the pitch here there he goes popped up back at first shallow right lazama long run still coming it’s going to get out [Applause] so we’ll do it again at three and two he may be throwing the cutter that one at 86 just a a slight variation from what his fast ball is and that seems to be the the pitch that he’s tried a couple of times to cheat we do it again at three and two and Krauss hits it on the nose deep into right center field widman’s giving chase going back after as well the right fielder Lzama and he’s got it oh the Pats have hit three tonight that if the conditions weren’t as they were this evening at Horner Ballpark it might be a different ball game lama makes that catch at the wall so we’re through five western Kentucky still on top by a run back at her ballpark on this chilly evening here April 4th opening game of a three-game series between DBU and Western Kentucky two teams came in this weekend tied for first place in the Conference USA standings well Patri fans want to remind you you’ve got a chance to play a role in the success of one of the nation’s top programs joining the dugout with the ever changing cape of college you can partner with DBU and by helping to give towards scholarships NIL and Patriot project on the QR code on your screen or you can go to patrioticfund.com to invest in be in contention for a lead crown as there’s a fast ball to Camden Ross for a strike ross has been on twice he’s walked and he’s homered prior to that home run he was 0 for his last 15 his average had fallen from 395 to 304 coming in this weekend here he takes a big cut now at nothing and two that home run that he hit in the third was only the fifth of his career in 102 career games [Music] and it’s been the difference tonight it was a three-run shot in the third that two out bomb felt pretty good about where things were and I think even too if you say that you’re going to get Bennett out of the game in the fifth you’re thinking the score’s a little bit different than 4-3 bucknham trying to retire the leadoff man here in the sixth against Ross here comes this one two fouled off it’s Ross Siero and Hayes 56 and seven for the Hill [Music] Toppers came inside on him he fouls it back off the mask maybe home plate umpire Connor Hogan almost looked like a curveball that stayed up and in a ball and two strikes here to Ross out of Broomville Colorado he’s been at Western Kentucky all three years of his career now the one-two softly to Grayback and there’s one down if that one would have gone as a base hit I would have petitioned Mr college baseball cuz the Patriots hit two balls at 101 m an hour and another at 102 and those accounted for all three outs in the bottom of the fifth it’s a funny game and right now it’s favoring Western Kentucky as we’re in the sixth it’s Joe Siero who’s walked and struck out transfer from Jefferson College back in his home state of Missouri that inside and tied brushed him back that’s your worst nightmare when you turn to bunt you get 94 up around your face there’s just nowhere to go it’s a guy that hit 379 last year at Jefferson College in the JO ranks first team all region for Siero 10 check to swing one and one 90th pitch of the night from Bucknham who’s battled [Music] only one pitch that he would love to have back that was the 10 pitch to Ross in the third outside of that he’s been brilliant the the commanded times tonight has gotten away from him but really since the third after he walked Carlos Vasquez he’s settled in he struck out eight tonight chopped it right side long run for Greybeck he’s got time though close play they get him siero made it very close two out and just because of where Cody was at second that turned out to be a tough play see how far he has to go he’s pinched in almost like he’s in double play depth with nobody on and he ends up deep in the hole at second and if he doesn’t make that play as quick as he does that’s an infield single for Siero i said he had time it got close so you see Jared Jenkins in that Patriot bullpin bucknham closing in on the end of his night 92 pitches here’s Kyle Hayes there’s a strike at 88 [Music] bucknham’s already passed his career high in pitches now with 93 that’s up hayes tips the count in his favor two balls and a strike guy that’s been swinging a hot bat lately came in hitting 434 over his last eight games he singled and drove in a run in the second struck out in the in the fourth on three pitches now he’s up 2-1 high bouncer to third doy’s got it it’s a three up three down inning nice work from Micah Bucknham as he goes six tonight he’s giving you everything you could want he’s kept the Patriots right in this one down a run headed to the bottom of the sixth 4-3 our score western Kentucky leads here in game one on this Friday night kind of chilly in Dallas at 62 degrees but we’ve held off the rain you know we expected the thunderstorms oh we didn’t think we’re going to get this ball game in they thought there’s a pretty good chance we’re going to play a double header tomorrow we’ve got baseball tonight and what more could you want one- run ball game as Landon Underh Hill Keaton Grady Luke Kefir are all coming up well you’re glad Landon Underh Hill is just still in the game he crashed into the wall in the corner down in right field it was a scary moment guy that’s battled injuries throughout his career tough kid he stayed on take a look at Micah Bucknham his night we’ll tell you that’s it’s done we love what you saw from Micah tonight he battled finishing with the uh the eight strikeouts didn’t allow a run since that that three-run home run in fact he gave up the home run and only allowed one base runner over his final three and a third landon Underh Hill digs in talked about Landon and the injuries that he’s had to battle as you watch him crash into the wall as he watches strike one go back to his freshman year at Mercer in uh 20 22 he had double hip surgery he had hand surgery his first year there in 22 red shirted holds up there juan Garza down the line says he didn’t go he’s been a journeyman he was at Mercer for two seasons he was the opening day starter there after his medical red shirt year there in 23 and then was at McClennon College down in Waco last year there he can’t hold one and two part of that MCC team that went to the junior college division one college world series last year got a ball and two strikes swings and misses boy Hartman got him to chase and there’s one out let’s go back over to Alexis Dela Gars we talk about the the start that this Western Kentucky team has gotten off to one of the biggest reasons behind that 25 and4 record has been the play of newcomer center fielder Ryan Weidman and for more Ryan’s story we say back say hello again to Alexis thanks Reagan yeah he’s been making a big name for himself ever since making the jump from JO to division 1 and right now he’s WKU star before the season he was named D1 baseball’s top 50 impact JO transfers list and currently he’s seventh in the nation when it comes to batting average and just gave WKU their first cycle in program history a few weeks back his performance has been catching people’s attention and even earned himself a spot on the Golden Spikes mid-season watch list weidman’s dad was a professional basketball player overseas so him and his siblings were all born in Spain and that’s where he picked up the game around 3 years old they lived there until his dad’s career was over and moved back to the States when he was around six widman says he chose WKU because he saw the opportunity for him to grow as a player and believed in the great coaching staff which they felt the same way about him ren saying they could see his potential and maybe he doesn’t have the cleanest looking swing or play but one thing is he will never get overworked and his effort is endless they’ve got a star i say in the making they’ve already got one with what he’s doing grady’s up here 3-1 yeah the the play if if you missed it the play that he made against Vanderbilt on Tuesday at least extended that another inning nearly made a great play in the first inning today yeah he’s been an impressive guy to watch 3-1 high and away grady’s on tying run at first base yeah if college baseball fans if they hadn’t heard the name Ryan Wyman they watched Tuesday night against Vandy they found out about him i was talking to Jack Todd their sports information director said he’s kind of been making plays like that all year for us he’s just super athletic in center field but uh we get our first look at him this weekend well there’s some star power golden Spikes award watch list grant Jay also named that list earlier this week for DBU and him along with Vasquez and Marcalo those Jo transfers completely changing this lineup from last year to this year kefir trying to put a bunt down this is the part of the order that you really have to lean on here the the bottom third of the order has struggled tonight grady with that walk you’ve got Heafner and Grayback well Grayback’s was hit by a pitch but boy if you if you can find a way to move some runners here luke come up with a hit flip the order over the runner goes and Grady picked out a great pitch to run on he’s got it stolen and so Luke was trying to move him over with the bunt now Heathther’s in a big spot chance to drive in the tying run yeah perfect pitch to to go on either a splitter or change up down good jump too from Keaton the 1-1 to Luke with the tying run in scoring position that time he offered at it a ball and two strikes veteran senior shortstop and Luke Kefner could drive in his 100th career RBI right here with Grady at second tie this ball game the one-two chopped it foul that was an odd looking swing almost like he kept the bat flat going all the way through the uh through the zone [Music] he struck out in the second grounded out to short in the fourth the one-two rolled to third this is not going to be easy brown comes in he’s got it that had some wicked English on it grady goes over to third base so they get the second out cody Greybeck coming up soft grounder but this one just had kind of some awkward roll to it up the line at third yeah I don’t I don’t know if you can do justice how difficult that play can be smooth play by Brown charging in but with the the English on that almost kicking back towards the third baseline that’s not a guaranteed play cody Greybeck is 0 for one he’s hit by a pitch and fly out to shallow center swings and misses [Applause] cody’s average has been up above 300 since a three hit game back on March 14th against Middle Tennessee he’s been swinging a hot bat can he carry it over in one of the biggest spots of his senior season right here with a tying run at third base that’s a big play behind the plate by Ross as you know Katon he wants to be aggressive anything that gets away that’s not an easy play but Ross has looked sharp back there he’s an elite catcher they they figured him to be a a fairly high draft pick or prospect this year check swing didn’t go two and one he got a foul he did he foul it he did one i believe they got on the board as 2-1 but that’s right then you’re looking at a one-two count yeah and I think he’s he is let Greybeck know hey that’s wrong it’s one two it is yeah he definitely he definitely got a piece of it he didn’t go around but I think he Yeah he he fouled it off grady’s getting getting antsy over there at third base it’s a great take by Greybeck you can see Hartman’s plan is to get him to chase that ball in the dirt hartman is a crafty right-hander the two- two pitch with two out hit him second time he’s been hit tonight it’s a Cody Greybeck special with two strikes [Applause] well flip it back around here’s Michael Dalo and that one looked like it hurt a little bit too he’s holding that right arm as he goes down the first base line now I would think it pretty safe bet as you see another look at the pitch inside i thought he got the hand and got the elbow but I think we uh we’re gonna see Greybeck i would most likely think on the run here maybe trying to force a throw to second base but not before a mound visit dylan Napoleon who made the change a moment ago to go get Hartman for Jack Bennett so you never know he’s got that infield in around him take a look at Katon Grady over there at third base who’s well if one gets away from Ross he may be sprinting home one-run game you got runners at first and third you know one of the things that DBU is so good at is that first and third action you’ve got Graybeck and Great they’ve shown it tonight i just don’t think Yeah I don’t think they’ll throw they’re not so I mean you even if they don’t you’ll take it all right i’ll put two in scoring position one of my best uh average guys and Michael up see if base hit can give you the lead you go back to the third inning chaitton Krauss was at first Jay at third that very same situation they just let Krauss have it and then Grady grounded out to third so well they pushed the envelope here and Dalo climbs in bottom of the sixth with two outs yeah Ross has given up three stolen bases today but hasn’t really thrown I don’t think he’s actually thrown on any of them so here’s Dalo one for three pats had two out magic in the first scored all three runs with two outs runner bluffs and Graybeck and it’s outside first time Donniey’s getting a look at Lucas Hartman 10 pitch is skyed foul hayes over it’s going to get out tying run right there in Grady and he’s bouncing around you’re You’re right anything that kicks away at all you might see Grady try and force the issue there’s Graybeck go ahead run good lead the 1-1 there goes Graybeck and Dalo goes in the air to right field lazama back on it he’s there over towards the line and there is out number three and Western Kentucky gets out of it again pat Strand the tying run 90 ft away so we’re on our way to the seventh inning into the latter part of this one hill Toppers still on top 4-3 43 as we make our way to the seventh inning series opener between two teams that came in at the top of the Conference USA standings at 4-2 and gives us a chance to look at the rest of the standings across the or at least the scoreboard across the uh the conference liberty getting a win gates against Middle Tennessee told you earlier about Louisiana Tech and National see a hand under action or underway here getting late in in a handful of ball games here it’s 4-3 West Kentucky on top and a new pitcher on the mound is Jared Jenkins who will take over for Micah Bucknham who went six innings gave up four runs on five hits three walks eight strikeouts threw 96 pitches and here is Jared Jenkins who will look to keep it a one-run ball game for Jenkins he is appearing for the ninth time this season 3-0 RA inflated a bit at 685 walks have been an issue this year 17 of them in 22 and a third still striking out his fair share of batters at 24 of them in those 22 innings jenkins with the fast ball curveball slider and change up couple of different fast balls he can throw the four seamer and the two seamer and he is on the mound first time since game two last week against New Mexico State on the road he gave up a couple of runs in two and two/3 it’s Reed Howard the number eight hitter who will lead it off he’s 0 for two today and Jenkins first pitch is in there for strike one jenkins had to battle that was a wild game last Saturday in Los Cusus he allowed two runs on two hits but he walked four batters howard swinging a miss fast ball at 90 from Jenkins [Music] last year Jenkins became a starter down the stretch he made 18 appearances overall but was in that rotation the last month and a half or so of the season 02 breaking ball towards Rob Fornier the recruiting coordinator third base coach for Western Kentucky mark Rarden loves his assistant coaches he speaks so highly of everybody on the staff he brought two great ones with him right there morir who heads up the the recruiting efforts and then Dylan Napoleon the pitching coach said that was his first call when he got the head job of course Napoleon was on his staff already at Iowa Western but he said within 10 minutes he was on the phone and Napoleon said are you in and he feels like he’s got one of the best pitching coaches in the game i think he’s got two of the best here this weekend kell Johnson and Dylan Napoleon one two is a ground ball to third nalo’s got it throw a little bit offline but Krauss holds the bag reed is now 0 for three and there’s one away to start things here in the seventh inning well yeah for nearer over there at the in the third base coaches box and then with Mark Rarden two guys at the junior college level did a lot of winning over a thousand wins uh respectively for for each of those two at the JCO level so they’ve got a lot of experience on this coaching staff it’s got him out to a 25 and4 start as Henry Brown is at the plate it gives them the inside track I think especially in the junior college ranks when you look at how they’ve constructed this roster where they’ve got some JO star power particularly in Ryan Wyman who we’ve talked about Thomas Msala Carlos Vasquez top of the order type guys Lzama the cleanup hitter I think as they become more successful and they build this under Mark Rarden it’s a team that you can start to see with as teams dig into the portal that they start to get a lot of those division one type transfers but right now I mean they they’ve struck gold in the junior college ranks hard to have better results than what they’ve gotten from the top of their lineup another ground ball to third little different play this time for Dalo is throw in time and so a couple of ground balls to third base and Jenkins has got the first two as the lineup card flips over always good to do that with nobody on base well Doy’s become just so sure-handed at third yeah you’re right two completely different plays the first one I thought was a little off the end of his glove he was lucky to get it but he did and made a good throw this one hit sharply but back at third he has to make a long throw well here is one of the affforementioned transfers in Carlos Vasquez although his transfer was a couple of years ago he was at Western Kentucky last season took a medical red shirt and he’s laid on a fast ball [Applause] he’s 0 for two he struck out twice one on a call that he was caught uh looking in the first didn’t like the call and then in the fifth on a check swing he didn’t think he went around in between that he walked in the third and scored on the three-run home run from Camden Ross that’s the difference in the game still no scoring on the board since that third inning home run from Camden Ross made it 4-3 bucknham went six now Jenkins trying to go one two three in the seventh bucknham cannot get the win obviously still on the hook for the loss unless his offense is able to tie up this ball game two-1 pitch another ground ball this one’s going to get through as a bouncer into center field so Vasquez his first hit of the night and a man on with two outs and here’s Thomas Marcala who will try to get something cooking here with two away and just right back through the middle by Vasquez on the second time tonight now you look at the game within the game here vasquez on on first one-run ball game marcel at the plate who’s got great great protection behind him may see Vasquez at some point on the move seven stolen bags on the season shift is on luke Keefner’s behind the bag at second there’s the big curveball that drops in for strike one when that first pitch drops in like that it it gives such an advantage to Jared Jenkins got the first two to ground out to third gave up the bounding single to Carlos Vasquez fast ball on the inside corner this time well there’s just nothing you can do with that with that pitch that’s a That’s a pitcher pitch for Jenkins fast ball in on the corner marcales singled his last time up he’s one for three trying to extend the inning and get it to Ryan Weidman in the on deck circle jenkins struck him out swinging the big breaking ball gets him and Jenkins puts up a zero in the top of the seventh it is stretch time at Horner Ballpark patriots down a run going to the bottom of the seventh 4-3 Patriots trailing here going to the bottom of the seventh inning first of three games here this weekend as we will continue our schedule tomorrow patriots and Hill Toppers 305 first pitch Sunday the finale before the Patriots hit the road for a fivegame stretch next week taking on Oklahoma there in Lel Mitchell Park but lots of business to attend to this weekend this game still hanging in the balance and then two more coming 3:00 and 1:00 this weekend well Tom Pool will lead it off tom Grant J Nathan Humphre against Lucas Hartman who is the pitcher of record he came on with two outs in the fifth inning for starter Jack Bennett jenkins has allowed just the one base hit but the Patriots hit him pretty hard in the sixth inning tom Pull in the fifth led off or led off nearly had a base hit up the middle but a play that was made by Jack Bennett i said they hit him well on the in the sixth it was really the fifth inning that DB was hitting the baseball hard as there is strike one tom lined out at 101 miles an hour grant Jay flew out to the track at 101 and then Chaitton Krauss to the wall at 102 those were the three outs bounces this one to second vasquez has got it on the candy top and one away to start things here in the seventh inning so DBU had the early three nothing lead but they have not been able to push anything across since the first and Grant Jay who is 0 for one couple of walks today including a run scored in the first going back to the end of last season he’s reached in 30 consecutive games takes inside for ball one hit three home runs on Tuesday to become the all-time home run leader in DBU history he’s got 54 55 would tie the ball game that is a good looking breaking ball that hits the outside corner at one and one grant went four for five at the six RBI’s on Tuesday he pops this one up first base side and foul kyle Hayes won’t have a play it’ll be a group of youngsters who will fight for that one dbu five hits overall but no hits since the third and only those two hits since the first inning there’s a swing and a miss for strike three at 85 so Lucas Hartman able to get P now he’s able to get Grant Jay and there’s two down for Nathan Humphre second strikeout for Hartman a pitch that’s just got good fade action to it he’s got a splitter it’ll be about 83 slider uh has more of a sweep action that there I tell you more of the the split here’s Nathan Humphre there’s a breaker for a strike and all of the Arsenal is working right now for Hartman humphre one for two a single a walk a stolen base tries to hold up here they appeal he does that first base dugout did not agree but the count is at one and one we’ll get our first look at [Applause] it that’s close i think he held up here’s the 1-1 and Hartman a strike away from an extremely efficient seventh inning pats threatened in the six left runners on the corners done that a couple of times here today the third and the sixth inning overshift on against Humphre left side wide open and he just got a piece boy Hartman’s keeping him fooled he is he’s got him off balance i mean he’s he’s got such an arsenal comes right at hitters attacks the arm speed always stays the same whether it be the fast ball that splitter or the slider he’s just really tough to pick up the one two hit weakly to the right side that’s the shortstop Reed Howard and a one two three inning for Lucas Hartman it is still 43 that’s been our score since the top of the third we’re going to the eighth inning patriots down a run [Music] on our way to the eighth inning Patriots down by a run it’s 4-3 Western Kentucky and they will send up 3 four and five in the order against Jared Jenkins and it begins with the uber talented Ryan Weidman who grounds one to first nice play by Krauss and he will crawl to the bag to ensure out number one so Weidman now one for four and one pitch one out for Jenkins it’s been an impressive start for Jared facing some big bats here in Widman for for Jaden being off the line right there with a right-hander just going to his left showing his range and his hustle it’s been a lot of long relief for Jared Jenkins and hit around a little bit in his last two this pitch is low for a ball to Ethan Lazama well you given up a couple of runs did Jenkins against New Mexico State over the weekend last weekend as there’s a fast ball for a strike and before that he threw three and a third against Middle Tennessee and gave up six runs so he’s allowed eight in his last two appearances trying to keep it a one-run game here he’s behind it two balls in a strike the Conference USA preseason pitcher of the year 6 and0 last year with that 343 erra three on the right side of the diamond here and that ball’s hit high and deep to right center but it looked like Lzama just got underneath it nathan Humphre is there well short of the track and there is out number two off the bat you held your breath a little bit but harmless fly ball two down and here’s Camden Ross that just gets under this it’s a breaking ball you can see how he got under it jared Jenkins has come out and filled out filled up the strike zone you love to see how he is attacking after the four walks he had last week had to be a priority well here’s Camden Ross he is the hero of the ball game right now for the Hill Toppers his three-run home run is the difference in the ball game his second of the year just the fifth of his career he had two of them last year and broke out of that 0 for 15 slide that pitch just misses and the count is at two and nothing that hit also was his first hit since March the 16th there’s a strike at the knees two and one he walked in the second homerred in the third and then grounded out in the sixth and the junior back stop out of Colorado takes away three and one for Jenkins joe Siero the left fielder is in the on deck circle 3-1 pitch it goes full jenkins trying to set up Chaitton Krauss landed underhill and Katon Grady in the bottom of the eighth check swing he went ball is squeezed and the inning is over so Jared Jenkins two shut out innings out of the bullpin keeping the Patriots connected they are down a run as we go to the bottom of the [Music] eighth 4-3 the score and here’s a look at our game summary started out hot for the Patriots chaitton Krauss a two RBI double in that first inning pats had a three nothing lead micah Bucknham’s been or was good today but gave up a four spot including a three-run home run in the third to Camden Ross patriots saw Jack Bennett for four and two/3s but it’s been Bennett and Hartman that duo that has kept the Patriots pretty quiet since that first inning they’re down a run with six outs to play with yeah one swing of the bat tonight’s the difference with Ross and really what what Hartman is doing on the mound has been pretty special he’s gone through the big bats there in the seventh pull Jay and Humphre retire all three in order and well this is a big inning right here find a way to get some damage done 56 and seven krauss under Hill and Grady can be dangerous hartman’s got a new battery made it’s Anthony Westbrook who is now doing the catching for Camden Ross the red shirt senior now behind the plate as Chaitton takes for ball one five hits already this week for Chaitton two of them tonight the double in the first and a single in the third he is ahead at two and nothing here to lead off the eighth inning patriots have had some heroic moments late in ball games this year trying to do it here in conference play against Western Kentucky and Krauss is ahead at 3 and 0 underh Hill behind him then Grady Heafner and Greybeck there at 87 for a strike and even at 3 0 he’s not going to throw a fast ball to to Krauss just to get me over everything he can throw for a strike the 3-1 he doesn’t there it’s ball four so Chaitton barks at his dugout as he tosses off that equipment he’ll jog to first and the Patriots we’ll see if they’re going to be able to manufacture something here and get this run home and tie up the ball game yeah decision time for Dan Heath now with Landon Underh Hill at the plate you try to lay one down krauss over at first base uh Landon tonight is is one for three he had that RBI single that drove in a run back in the first inning uh limited time and does not have a sack butt this year first pitch is down low ball one it’s really neither righties or lefties has have fared very well against Hartman so slightly an advantage but lefties still only hitting 136 against him this year underh Hill fouls this one back at one and one krauss not a a real threat to go as here comes a quick jog from Dylan Napoleon out of the dugout he almost surprises Hartman by the time he looks up he’s got him right in his hip he saw something [Music] very intentional message he’s he’s talking to the infield you see Carlos Vasquez nodding as well i mean a lot in play right here we talk about the possibility of landing trying to put one down you got Krauss over at first i mean not not a a real base stealing threat there oh Chad stole four and five most still on base I think have been kind of behind somebody in a in a double steel type situation you don’t think you’re going to see a straight steal in this situation henry Brown at third still even with the bag should a bunt be laid down it’s not shown a check swing and it’s called a strike so now it’s at one and two now Brown will step back and play well off the line at third base not a true overshift but Brown is well off that fat foul line [Applause] hartman is just trying to get you to chase i mean so much of his stuff is down the splitter the slider where he wants you to to get you out in front use that aggressiveness against you his fast ball’s about got wide but we’ve not seen a lot of it there’s a swing and a miss strike three that registers at 88 miles an hour might have been that cut fast ball and there’s one away third strike out oh he had some good movement that almost did look like a slider didn’t it yeah it did you know the slider is about 80 to 83 at least what we’re told so I’m with you i mean the cutters 85 to 87 but it has the trajectory of what you would see a slider do whatever you want to call that’s a great pitch third strike out for Hartman now here’s Katon Grady boy and a for two it is strike one call and a pitch almost looked above the letters here’s another look at it and that’s ball one boy [Music] now one ball in one strike that’s a big difference strike one’s so important he’s ahead in the count now he can afford to throw that pitch right there where he’s going to try to get Katon out in front and get him 02 if Katon was 6 feet tall that might have been a strike he’s 5′ n that one’s too far upstairs that wasn’t too much further above what we’d seen the previous pitch definitely a ball though two and one here to Katon Grady who walked his last time stole second base and was stranded at third all in the sixth inning and tight three and one and Hartman is in danger of walking two the bullpin is moving for Western Kentucky 3-1 pitch do it again three and two and the big arms in the back of that bullpin cal Higgins evan Jones this man’s been pretty good himself today yeah there’s some real weapons in that pin this This is what makes this Western Kentucky team so dangerous as much as we talk about the offense it’s the back end of the pin where they’re really good too big time 3-2 pitch ball four is there went Chadton Krauss but he’ll stop at second after the walk so DBU has the go-ahead run at first base and we are going to see a pinch hitter it’s Jake Bennett who’s coming off the bench to hit for Luke Keafner jake dealing with a hamstring injury and he said that he would be available tonight to pinch hit boy what a spot for Jake this guy has swung a hot bat lately over the last three or four weeks he’ll get his money’s worth and he is looking for one spot you can almost bet that Hartman’s going to he’s going to be spinning that slider that splitter try to get him out in front and chase it here comes the bowl he’s not going to see Hartman yeah he may end up seeing a lefty out in that bullpen as that’s the end of the line so Jake Bennett off the bench first time we’ve seen him since last Tuesday when he tweaked the hamstring he had been blistering hot prior with a 348 average and five homers over the previous eight games he will see the lefty out of the bullpin as it is Cal Higgins who will try to get out of this jam for Western Kentucky don’t go anywhere huge spot coming up runners at first and second jake Bennett up with one out here in the eighth jake Bennett who is going to see Cal Higgins lucas Hartman exits after a solid outing two and two third innings he does not give up a hit now he does walk three he hits a batter he strikes out three and after 56 pitches he hands it to one of the big guns right here for the Hill Toppers boy it’s 64245 you get a look at Cal Higgins 10th appearance for Cal Higgins this season he’s had a spectacular year a one and a half erra 25 strikeouts in 18 innings opposite of just the five walks he’s got a 203 batting average against he’s got a couple of saves and I guess technically not the closer that would be Evan Jones who’s got four saves but make no mistake Higgins has closer type stuff and you can see right there bottom of that graphic what he did against Vanderbilt on Tuesday it was two and two/3 of perfect relief three strikeouts in an a high stress situation he entered in the seventh pitched all the way through the ninth inning kept Vanderbilt off the board as the senior out of Kierney Nebraska has a fast ball low to mid 90s can throw that cutter or maybe a gyro like slider a curve ball as well as a change up as his 10th appearance of the season and he’s going to go after Jake Bennett coming off the bench bennett on the year hitting .271 he’s got the seven home runs and 21 RBI’s first pitch is down and in ball one now there’s certain guys who step into the batters box and they have ill intentions and Jake Bennett would fit that mold he can hit a ball a mile he’s trying to get a hold of one here fouls it off as he got a fast ball at 91 from Higgins higgins is only allowed a run in two appearances this year game two of the season against Illinois State he gave up a run and then against Kent State or Kennesaw State he gave up three runs it’s his only loss of the year one and one fast ball challenged him at 93 bennett a wild cut and it’s one and two krauss started the inning with a walk two batters later Katon Grady walked both those runners belong to Lucas Hartman and Bennett stays alive higgins is challenging him with that fast ball that one at 94 [Music] he’s got the tight slider curve ball and change up he can throw as well and another foul ball for Jake Bennett boy off the bench cold against an arm like this you haven’t played in over a week he’s battling and this is a tough delivery to pick up watch where Higgins his front foot that right foot repoints it he’s almost he’s his back is to the hitter this is really tough to pick up got him swinging went downstairs with the soft stuff and he got the swing and a miss so Bennett is gone and there’s two down for Cody Greybeck well that is that’s a change up there i mean he’d gone fast ball and here just buries it you see the fast ball up that plays about 94 and then to throw that out of that just awkward delivery so hard to see and now left on left it’s Cody Greybeck graybeck’s been hit twice as strike one is called on the outside corner believe it or not lefties are actually hitting better against Higgins this year 235 as opposed to 191 for righties you wouldn’t think that with how difficult that has to be to pick up from the left side 01 bunt shown by Greybeck trying to surprise the Hill Toppers the count is at 0 and2 pats had first and second with one away and Cal Higgins is trying to leave him there and guarantee at least a one-run lead in the bottom of the ninth for the Hill Toppers that one in the air third base easy play for Henry Brown and the inning is over so Cal Higgins does his job out of the bullpin and the Patriots still off the scoreboard since the first inning we’re going to the ninth western Kentucky on top 4-3 to the ninth inning we go under the lights of Warner Ballpark and it’s a 4-3 Hill Toppers lead western KY’s got Siero Hayes and Howard it’s 67 and eight coming up and if Jared Jenkins can throw up a zero here the Pats have got life you got the top of the order coming up the most important thing right now is to take care of business you see Dylan Schlaggel who’s come off the bench a little bit excuse me a little bit of shifting too in the infield as Grady moves from left to second and then Greybeck moves from second over to short as Heafner was pinch hit for by Jake Bennett so Underh Hill stays in right you got Humphre in center jared Jenkins on the mound with Schlaggel taking over in left field off the bench first pitch of the ninth bounded foul siero is 0 for two he walked struck out and he’s grounded out hill Toppers about hit DBU 6’5 and it’s a razor thin margin tonight 43 lead for Western Kentucky the one swing that’s the difference is a Camden Ross home run in the third [Applause] [Music] hill Toppers trying to get to 26 and four pats trying to win for the 20th time this year they’re going to need some comeback magic in the ninth the one two didn’t go and with the power bats you have coming up you keep that a one-run game you know that at any moment got a chance to tie or take the or win the ball game in the bottom of the ninth it’s Jenkins job to keep it at a one-run game that ball hit well to center field going to hang up though the ball just not carrying tonight unless you’re somebody by the name of Camden Ross been some didn’t miss that one no no he didn’t he hit it just right at 100 miles an hour there’s been some balls that have been squared up that maybe it’s a a little bit of different night offensively for both of these teams if maybe we play this a week ago instead of what we’re seeing today or maybe even play yesterday kyle Hayes takes low for a ball hayes one for three jenkins has been effective he came on in the seventh 32 pitches tonight he’s given up just one hit kat was named the Conference USA preseason pitcher of the year after going 6-0 last season 16 and a third innings in a 3.23 erra he’s looked that part tonight think he might have got a benefit of an expanded zone there that’s that’s a really difficult slider to hit jenkins one-two offering hangs the breaking ball leaves it up know Jared had given up eight runs over six innings in his last two outings tonight he’s done his job trying to get these last two outs get us to the bottom of the ninth down a run boy that’s close Jay held it three and two yeah I think it’s off but we’ve seen it called a strike and a ball today which is has been the issue full count to Hayes [Applause] Got him in the hands but he just muscles it into right field hayes got a two hit night just right there in on the handle did enough with it unfortunately that sometimes is is what always sparks a rally and you know Western Kentucky they’re not the team they were last year with the sack bunts but at the bottom of the order coming up i wonder if they’re going to play for one run here just to try and and extend this lead as best they can even though I I guess no I was I miss forgot about the first fly out the center so there’s there is an out yeah but you never know with this squad one thing Mark Rearen says to your point he says that he’s always felt like the greatest philosophy is that you do to other teams what you hate having done to you and even in in this situation with one out it’s not out of the realm of possibilities for the Hill Toppers team to go back to what’s been their identity well yeah you saw Howard just now try to lay one down he said they’ve kept that element in their game even though they’ve the roster it’s it’s a different look there’s a ground ball this might be a tailor made twin killing there it is call it two jenkins gets out of it pats roll their 22nd double play ball of the year dbu down a run it’s D to P Jade top three in the order coming up when we [Music] return michael Dalo to lead things off top of the ninth against Cal Higgins it’s Die P and Jay top three of the order this is all you could ask for you’re down a run but Jared Jenkins has been outstanding out of the bullpen tonight now you got some big bats coming up right here to face Cal Higgins and you knew that they had a handful of arms in the back of that bullpen and uh with Higgins even though you know not necessarily the closer he has got that ability and so they’re going to ask him to get a five out save against this offense and he went through the bottom of the order now he’s got to deal with the top higgins pitched on Tuesday at Vanderbilt two and two/3 innings didn’t give up a run through 37 pitches he was electric dylan Napoleon and Mark Renson said they weren’t going to burn him with DBU coming up felt like he could have closed out that game but this was the spot they had in mind so can DBU answer the bell here against tickets he’s making his 50th career appearance donnie’s one for four tonight trying to get on the 01 hit it [Applause] foul the tallow’s hit tonight came back in the second the line drive to right field higgins has got him 02 [Applause] the O2 pitch and Doy fights it off steady diet there it’s been three straight fast balls for Higgins that one there at uh 93 but doesn’t give in easy oh and two higgins comes inside and that went down the line and it is fair and it’s rolling towards the corner die around first here comes the throw the tunnel is in with a leadoff double pat got the tying run at second and nobody out well Lady at bat right he’s able to foul off a couple gets another fast ball this one ends up catching too much of the plate and Dalo goes down the right field line he was thinking double immediately and now here comes Tom P patriots have the winning run at the plate a bit surprised he got a fast ball i Yeah I was too i I I was thinking you know he struck out Jake Bennett after a couple of fast balls on a really good breaking ball low and he never went to it left on left pull at the plate he’s the winning run well we’ve seen P with some heroics in his career and here he is facing a guy in Higgins who is was on the National Collegiate Collegiate Baseball Riders preseason stopper of the year watch list so this is a big gun right here on the mount bull takes up and in you do see the other name that we were told that could potentially close and Evan Jones he’s warming in the pin right now pulling a ball and a strike he’s hit the ball hard twice tonight lined out to third and lined out right back to the pitcher that one was at 102 off the bat here’s the 1-1 off the corner two and one yeah not all 0 for fours are created equal and Tom has squared up a couple of baseballs today [Applause] [Music] two-1 pitch got him on a change up two and two out in front here’s the one i know it’s a lefty versus a righty but that’s the type of pitch I was expecting at some point to that we never got doy’s the tying run at second pulls the winning run higgins 2-2 stays alive now you want to be the hero obviously but if you’re Tom that runner just needs to be at third base with less than two outs pull is the leading hitter on this team this year runners in scoring position at 500 donnie stands at second the 2-2 from Higgins p continues to stay alive and fight and battle right here against Higgins how do you not love this boy game one this threeame series between two teams at top the conference standings pool ready two and two we do it again here it comes from Higgins in tight three and two what an at bat from P who got down quickly [Applause] 02 higgins a big lefty 64 245 facing P at three balls two strikes one-run game die dancing at third here it comes punches it foul again this will be the ninth pitch coming up here got to get some more baseballs well that dugout is always into it talking the game energetic all behind Pool here at three and [Music] two here it comes off the end of the bat little bouncer do has to hold the throw is in time boy Pull just out at first you have to wonder too kind of dealing with that nagging hamstring how much that play would affect getting down the line but uh again another play it wasn’t easy brown makes it there’s one out do has to hold it second yeah that ball is hit immediately on the ground and it’s trickling towards third then Dalo’s got a chance and he’s going to be able to get to third but you’re right that last second look over at second by Brown nearly gave uh P a chance to beat that out grant Jay all-time home run leader right here dylan Napoleon says “We got to talk about a good idea let’s let’s chat about this one real quick figure out a plan.” Well big spot and this is what if this is everything you could want right here in this situation down a run and you’ve got your biggest bat at the plate yeah and obviously you would have wished that Tatalo could have gotten over to third base there you you see once again a look at Evan Jones but uh oh you you got the righty here in Grant J you got the lefty in Humphrey’s after him so what does Western Kentucky elect to do they’ve got uh their guy in Higgins who has been hot you know he he looks so good against Vanderbilt looked really good in the eighth inning they’re going to leave him in to face Grant Jay the game on the line so here’s Grant against Cal Higgins with one out the tying run at second base a base hit could tie the ball game and Jay Blast would win it he’s hit 54 in his career to set the record higgins first pitch to Jay is a fast ball but 93 for a strike but that was a lot of the conversation is what do we want to start Grant Jay with surprised him with a fast ball [Applause] doy had the leadoff double he’s at second with one out higgins pitch ripped foul 02 [Applause] jay’s walked twice hit one deep to center that was caught at the track and then struck out in the seventh he’s behind nothing and two to Higgins struck him out on three pitches boy what a sequence there from Higgins i think that’s the pitch you were looking for against Aalo that one with some sink to it and it’s going to come down to Nate Humphre with two outs want to see exactly what this pitch was it almost looked like a straight change from where we were sitting you can see how frustrated Grant is as he swings at that right there lets out the scream he was fooled it’s a great pitch from Higgins nate Humphre now Nate hits lefties at a 360 mark so he’s been kind of matchup proof this year this is outside for a ball nate typically likes to see to see one get over before he’s hacking he does see that first pitch it’s one up [Music] he’s swinging that’s in the air to right center widman is there waiting for it to come down he’s got it and the Pats squander a leadoff double from Dalo here in the ninth as the Hill Toppers take game one as Cal Higgins closes it out and a one-run ball game kind of what we might expected in this series between two outstanding clubs we thought maybe some more offense but tonight it was pitching in defense hill Toppers take game one 4-3 back to Dallas to close it out when we return [Music] game one in the books 4-3 Western Kentucky defeats 17th ranked DBU tonight in a one-run thriller that came down to the bottom of the ninth as the Pats lose it western Kentucky now 26-4 with the win here in game one welcome back to the booth reagan Racklin Brendan Smith and Pats got out to a great start tonight three runs in the first inning he kind of got to Jack Bennett in a two-out situation but things started to turn and really changed on one swing time yeah it did and Camden Ross is the the difference in the ball game at least offensively but what this Western Kentucky pitching staff did after three runs in the first Bennett only goes four and two/3 and it was I think more of a matchup situation that he came out but Hartman was great higgins really good there at the at the end of the uh of the bullpen but even after the game just looked like man that was a really good baseball game uh against two good teams playing solid baseball and I think hopefully that’s what we’ve got in store for the rest of this series two teams that are going to be right there at the top of the conference yeah kind of hit the reset button now you get ready for game two let’s look at that tomorrow uh James Elwinger goes for debut really the story I think starts there what the what what you get from James yeah and James didn’t have the outing that he wanted last week but you know that he has the potential to completely shut down an opposing offense he’s going to have his hands full really Mike Buckner did a solid job against this offense uh and then what Jared Jenkins did as well was also impressive uh but yeah you need El Wanganger to fill up that zone to get back to just being his confident self and hopefully that’s what we see uh on Saturday and have a chance to even up this series yeah Patriots have won seven consecutive weekend series trying to win the race they’re going to have to do it coming back and winning tomorrow set up a rubber match for Sunday should be a great one tomorrow with James El Winger on the mound in the series finale that’s going to do it for us tonight hill Toppers win a thriller 43 and a one-run ball game here in game one so for Alexis Deagarza and my broadcast partner Brendon Smith as well as our entire crew I’m Reagan Rackcliff saying good night and God bless from Dallas Texas all games airing on the ESPN networks are streaming live and archived on the ESPN app this has been a presentation of ESPN [Music]
Big road win against a ranked team!
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