BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – After making 14 starts on the mound as a junior in 2008 and opening the 2009 campaign in the starting rotation, it seemed
Bart Carter was locked into a role as a starting pitcher for the WKU Hilltoppers.
But when the coaching staff decided to move him to the bullpen last season in early March, the left-hander embraced that role as if he’d been doing it the whole time.
“Last year when we put him in the bullpen his numbers were outstanding,” Hilltopper pitching coach
Matt Myers said. “He was very good at his role last season, and I want him and
Rye Davis to be finish guys at the back end of our bullpen this year. What he’s doing will help our starting pitchers have some good things happen.”
Carter emerged as a lights-out stopper out of the bullpen at end of 2009’s non-conference slate. He allowed just one run in 4.2 innings pitched at Auburn on March 11 while striking out six, and gave up just seven earned runs against Sun Belt Conference opponents all season. He struck out at least one batter in all but two of his 25 outings on the year and finished with 54 strikeouts in 51.0 innings pitched.
During the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Carter really shined, pitching 6.2 innings in three outings and giving up only four hits and one earned run while fanning 11. For his efforts he was named to the Sun Belt Conference All-Tournament Team, alongside Hilltopper teammates Chad Cregar and Matt Hightower.
He finished the year with a 6-1 record, four saves and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of nearly two-and-a-half-to-one. But Carter isn’t taking last year’s success for granted as he heads into his senior season.
“We’re very, very proud of Bart,” Myers said. “He committed himself this summer to the weight room and wanted to make himself as healthy as he’s ever been.”
As the fall practice season winds down and the 2010 regular season approaches, the WKU coaching staff feels confident that Carter can reprise his bullpen role and be counted on at the end of games this season.
“Bart has three pitches right now that are locked in,” Myers explained. “Having a senior, an experienced guy at the back end of your bullpen is a huge strength.”
“Ten About ‘10” Series Finishes Wednesday: The “Ten About ‘10” feature series detailing for fans 10 aspects of the 2010 WKU Hilltopper baseball team will wrap up tomorrow with item number one. A different element of the 2010 Hilltoppers has been highlighted each weekday for the last nine days, leading up to the start of the Fall World Series on Thursday. 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.
