OXFORD, Miss. — Western Kentucky University (41-19) jumped on the Missouri Tigers (35-27) early for the second time in three days to post an 11-6 victory on Sunday afternoon at Oxford-University Stadium and advance to the program's first NCAA Regional Championship round appearance in 29 years. The third-seeded Hilltoppers won their second game in three tries in the NCAA Oxford Regional, eliminating the Tigers, and will now face top-seeded and eighth-ranked Ole Miss at 5:00 PM.
WKU jumped out to a 7-0 lead after two innings and never looked back, building as much as an 11-3 cushion before Missouri plated three cosmetic runs in the ninth. In two games, Missouri starting pitching surrendered 13 runs in 2.2 innings of work to Hilltopper hitters.
The Toppers got on the board in the bottom of the first on an RBI single back up the middle by Chad Cregar, scoring Matt Payton from third base. Senior shortstop Terrence Dayleg slapped a two-out, two RBI single through the left side as WKU grabbed a 3-0 advantage after one inning. The senior duo of Cregar and Dayleg combined for 10 RBI, going 7-for-9 and scoring four times. Cregar's five RBI tied a season-high while Dayleg equaled his career-best with five runs driven in.
In the second inning, Wade Gaynor's sacrifice fly scored Jeremy Coleman and then Cregar crushed a 1-2 offering from Tiger starter Ian Berger over the wall in right field for a three-run homer as WKU led 7-0.
Missouri battled back with two in the top of the third coming on a bloop single by Greg Folgia and then an RBI single to right by Aaron Senne, both with two outs. Another two-out base hit, this time in the fifth, by Steve Gray pulled the Tigers within 7-3.
Gaynor singled through the right side to score Payton from third in the sixth as WKU increased its lead to 8-3. Gaynor then stole second base, giving him 20 on the season. Along with his 23 home runs, he becomes the first Hilltopper in school history to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases in a single season.
Matt Hightower (7-3), the Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Year, tossed 5.0 innings, scattering eight hits and one walk, striking out one and allowing three earned runs in earning the win for WKU. Evan Teague tossed 4.0 innings of relief, tying a career-long outing, allowing three earned runs on six hits, striking out one.
Berger (3-4) suffered the loss for Missouri after surrendering seven earned runs on six hits and one walk in 1.2 innings of work.
Cregar had four hits to lead the Hilltoppers while Dayleg tallied three and Jared Andreoli and Gaynor each had two.
TEAM NOTES:
• WKU improves to 3-0 all-time against Missouri (2-0 in NCAA Tournament)
• WKU improves to 5-5 all-time against the Big 12 Conference
• WKU has feasted on Missouri starting pitching, posting 13 runs in 2.2 innings against the Tigers two starters
• With three runs in the first inning, WKU broke the single season school record of 518 runs scored set in 1988; they currently have 527
• Now with 41 wins on the season, WKU ties the 1981 team for fourth most victories in school history
• With one home run on the day, WKU has 84 on the season and trails the 1981 squad by two for third all-time
• WKU improves to 25-0 when scoring 10 or more runs this season
• An error in the ninth inning ended the Hilltoppers string of 33-straight error-free innings in the NCAA Tournament dating back to the 2008 NCAA Regional in Stillwater, Okla. (first error in three games of this NCAA Tournament)
• WKU improves to 32-12 when smacking 10 or more hits
• WKU improves to 31-5 when leading after six innings (won two-straight)
• WKU improves to 28-2 when leading after seven innings (won 15-straight)
• WKU improves to 30-1 when leading after eight innings (won 16-straight)
INDIVIDUAL NOTES:
• Junior third baseman Wade Gaynor stole second in the fourth inning to become the first player in WKU history with 20 home runs and 20 steals in a single season
• Sophomore catcher Matt Rice went 1-for-5 to hit safely in his 55th of 59 games played this season
• Rice's one hit gives him 96 on the season and he is now just three behind Matt Gunning (2004) for second all-time
• Gaynor scored once to give him 81 for the season, only two behind Rob Tomberlin's 1985 school record of 83
• Senior shortstop Terrence Dayleg drove in five RBI, tying a career-high set last season against Evansville on April 15
• Senior outfielder Chad Cregar tied a season-high with five RBI
• Senior reliever Evan Teague tossed 4.0 innings of relief, tying his career-long outing set in 2006
NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTES:
• The 11 runs scored is tied for the second most by WKU in an NCAA Tournament game (equaling the 11 runs scored against Missouri on Friday)
• WKU advances to the program's second NCAA Regional championship round game, the first in 29 years
• WKU improves to 5-7 all-time in NCAA Tournament play (fourth appearance)
• WKU is making the program's first-ever at-large appearance in the NCAA Tournament
• WKU improves to 5-4 all-time versus the regional field: Mississippi (2-4), Missouri (3-0), and Monmouth (0-0)
• Senior outfielder Chad Cregar returns to his hometown of Oxford, Miss. for NCAA Tournament play
