BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The Western Kentucky University baseball team ended the regular-season with a 6-1 loss to Middle Tennessee on Saturday afternoon at Nick Denes Field.
WKU (24-31, 13-17 Sun Belt Conference) was limited to one run on five hits as Middle Tennessee (29-27, 14-16) avoided the series sweep. The loss halted the Hilltoppers' season-long three-game winning streak.
"I'm ecstatic with the way the way this club played this week," WKU coach Matt Myers said. "It started Tuesday against a very good EKU team. We came out and swung it great, played great, focused all week. We earned the opportunity to be in this tournament, no one gave it to us."
Hilltoppers freshman Ian Tompkins (4-3) was touched for one run on one hit with a strikeout in 1-1/3 innings before being lifted from the game after taking a line drive off his left arm.
Blue Raiders starter Jonathan Frebis (5-3) shutout the Hilltoppers on five hits in five innings with one strikeout.
WKU shortstop Scott Wilcox went 1-for-3 with the lone Hilltopper RBI. Center fielder Jared Andreoli, left fielder David Simmons, catcher Ryan Messex and designated hitter Blake Crabtree each added singles. Messex reached base twice with a walk in the eighth.
With his first-inning single Andreoli moved into sole possession of second place on the program's career hits list, passing Josh Patton (1994-97) with 282 career hits.
The Blue Raiders took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on an RBI single by right fiddler Dalton Henzman.
MTSU first baseman Justin Guidry led off the top of the sixth inning with a solo home run to right field to make it 2-0.
With a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning, Middle Tennessee extended its lead to 4-0. Back-to-back RBI singles by Guidry and third baseman Hank LaRue accounted for the scoring.
WKU got on the board with a run in the bottom of the eighth inning behind an RBI single by Wilcox to make the score 4-1.
The Blue Raiders added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the ninth with an RBI single by left fielder Jordan Rorex and shortstop Ryan Ford coming into score on an error.
WKU redshirt freshman Tate Glasscock worked 3-2/3 innings, allowing one run on five hits with a pair of walks. Right-hander Brennan Pearson gave up four runs - three earned - on seven hits while walking two and striking out one in 3-1/3 innings. Junior Colton Satterlee worked the final two-thirds of an inning.
The conference tournament, which will be played at Bowling Green Ballpark in downtown Bowling Green, is scheduled to begin Wednesday. The bracket and schedule will be announced following Saturday's games.
