April 26, 2008

Box Score |  Action Photos 

BOCA RATON, FL - The Hilltoppers backed right-handed starter Matt Ridings with nine runs and Western Kentucky University went on to beat Florida Atlantic University 11-5. The weekend series is now even at one game apiece.

Western Kentucky (24-18; 11-9 SBC) benefited from Chad Cregar's league-leading 17th home run and Ridings went six innings to improve his record to 8-2.

Cregar's two-run homer in the third and a two-run shot by Matt Payton in the fifth helped WKU build up a 9-2 advantage.

Cregar's homer, his second of the series, came off FAU starter Michael Obradovich (3-3) who was lifted in the fourth. Prior to taking the loss Saturday, Obradovich had turned in consecutive winning starts in which he went eight innings in both outings.

William Block's two-out RBI in the first inning was his 30th of the year and 14th in the last nine games. Block's single was part of a two-run FAU first inning that had allowed the Owls an early 2-1 lead.

WKU poured on the offense in the middle innings, scoring three runs in the third, three in the fourth and two more in the fifth.

Travis Ozga went 3-for-5 and Troy Bubley hit a solo homer in the eighth, his second.

Florida Atlantic (24-17; 11-7 SBC) will need to win the rubber game tomorrow if it wants to improve to 6-1 in head-to-head series versus Sun Belt teams this season. First pitch Sunday is scheduled for 1 p.m.

GAME NOTES: FAU's home record moves to 18-9...Sean Bukovich continues to standout defensively at third base, making a charging, bear-handed grab and throw to end WKU's half of the second inning...FAU SS Nick Arata left the game with what appeared to be a minor injury in the fifth.