Bowling Green, Ky. ? Junior third baseman Wade Gaynor went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBI to lead Western Kentucky to an 11-0 win over UAlbany in the Great Danes' 2009 season opener at Nick Denes Field on Friday afternoon. The seven-inning game was part of a doubleheader moved to Friday due to impending weather. UAlbany dropped a 23-2 decision in the second game.

            The Hilltoppers scored runs in all but one inning. WKU tallied single runs in the first and second and added two in the third. All four runs were unearned off UAlbany starter Josh Willimott, who struck out five in his four innings of work. Willimott held the Hilltoppers hitless in the fourth frame, striking out his final batter faced to end his first outing of the season.

            WKU added three runs in the bottom half of the fifth. The Hilltoppers started the rally as UAlbany reliever Ryan White hit senior outfielder Matt Hightower with a pitch. Hightower, who stole second and third, was driven home along with Chad Crager on a two-RBI single by Gaynor. Gaynor, who advanced to second on a throw to home after his single, stole third and scored on a single to right by Jared Andreoli. Freshman Travis Wilson, who relieved White on the mound, got Jeremy Coleman looking and induced a fly out to end the inning.

            The Hilltoppers then exploded for four runs in the sixth inning. Wilson walked three of the first four batters faced before being relieved by senior Chris Ott. Catcher Matt Rice singled to score two runs for WKU, while Gaynor scored an unearned run on a fielding error by the Great Danes. Rice scored on a groundout by Kes Carter before Ott got Matt Payton to fly out to end the inning.

            UAlbany (0-2) managed three hits in the game. Shortstop Sean Donovan recorded a double in his first at bat, while senior left fielder Gary Pitcheralle drove a triple to left centerfield in the third inning. Senior outfielder Dave West also added a single for the Great Danes. Right hander Matt Ridings went six innings on the mound for WKU (3-1), striking out eight and allowing UAlbany's three hits.

            In the second game, left hander Matt Hightower held the Great Danes to one hit in six innings of work, striking out three batters and retiring 16 consecutive hitters. WKU scored in all but two innings in the nightcap. The Hilltoppers posted three in the first with Paxson driving in Hightower and Terrance Dayleg on a single and Matt Payton scoring on a wild pitch. UAlbany was able to hold the potent Hilltopper offense in check during the second inning with sophomore pitcher Dave Kubiak striking out one and getting two to fly out.

           However, in the bottom of the third, WKU pounded across six runs, including a home run by Cregar. His shot over the wall in right-center scored Dayleg, who reached on a single. Paxson posted his third RBI of the evening when he drove in Gaynor with a double. Carter and Jake Wells both posted singles and scored in the inning.

         WKU proceeded to score three in the fourth, two in the fifth and one in the sixth before blasting eight runs in the seventh, including a grand slam by C.J. Wamsley. The Hilltoppers posted six hits in the frame. UAlbany got on the board for the first time in the two games in the seventh inning when Gugel doubled to right center off Ross Hammonds to score Dave West. The Great Danes recorded a second run in the top of the eighth after Donovan singled in Zach Kraham.

-agate-

UAlbany            000       000       0          -           0          3          6

W. Kentucky      112       034       x          -           11         10         3

            UAlbany: Josh Willimott, Ryan White (5), Travis Wilson (5), Chris Ott (6) and Ryan Gugel.

            Western Kentucky: Matt Ridings, J.B. Paxson (7) and Matt Rice.

Score by Innings                  R  H  E
-----------------------------------------
Albany.............. 000 000 0 -  0  3  6
WKU................. 112 034 X - 11 10  3
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Score by Innings                    R  H  E
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Albany.............. 000 000 110 -  2  5  3
WKU................. 306 321 80X - 23 19  1
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