BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – For all but one game of the last two seasons, Hilltopper head coach
Chris Finwood has penciled in
Jake Wells’ name at first base in the lineup. And he’s delivered in every way possible.
It doesn’t look like his senior season of 2010 is going to be any different.
“Jake stuck around this summer and worked very hard in the weight room to get himself stronger,” Hilltopper assistant coach
Blake Allen said. “I think he’s going to have a big year for us and hit for more power and drive in some more runs.”
Wells hit .328 with an on-base percentage of .413 as a sophomore in 2008, and followed that up by hitting .314 with 5 home runs and 36 RBI last season as a junior. The Owensboro, Ky., native started 59 of 60 Hilltopper games in 2008 and made starts in all 62 contests in 2009.
His defensive prowess at first base was one of the reasons why WKU finished with the third-best fielding percentage in the nation last season, as Wells made just one error in 564 chances. He made only six the year prior.
Wells was as good at the plate as he was in the field in 2009, recording at least one hit in 42 of his 62 games played on the year. He had two separate 10-game hitting streaks, and his 24 multi-hit games were good for third-most on the team.
His first 10-game hitting streak came during the first 10 games of the season, as Wells opened the season hitting .619 after six team games and .500 at the conclusion of his streak. He also notched a 10-game hitting streak in the heart of conference play from April 8-24.
“Consistency is what Jake is all about,” Allen said. “You know what you are going to get every time he takes the field, and we will lean on him more this year as a leader on the field and in the clubhouse.”
Wells arguably saved his best performance of the season for when it mattered most, as he turned in a 4-for-5 performance in a dramatic, come-from-behind Hilltopper victory over Ole Miss in the NCAA Regional. WKU found itself down 9-3 with six outs remaining but stormed back with six runs in the eighth to tie the game, and Wells blasted a ninth-inning, go-ahead home run to put the Hilltoppers on top by the eventual final score of 10-9.
The win extended WKU’s season and forced a winner-take-all regional championship game the following day, and it also gave Hilltopper fans something to look forward to in Wells’ final season on the Hill.
“He made the commitment to get in the weight room and get stronger this summer,” Allen explained. “It should pay dividends for him this spring.”
“Ten About ‘10” Series Continues Monday: The “Ten About ‘10” feature series detailing for fans 10 aspects of the 2010 WKU Hilltopper baseball team will continue on Monday with item number three. A different element of the 2010 Hilltoppers will be highlighted each weekday, leading up to the start of the Fall World Series on November 5. Item number one will be revealed on Wednesday, November 4. Keep checking the website each day to find out what’s ahead for the baseball team in 2010. If you missed any of the previous stories in the countdown, you can catch up by clicking on the links at the top of the page.
