Campbell's Homer Gives Baseball 6-5 Victory

Friday, April 14

Reese Smith Field

7:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

Western Kentucky

Photo by: MT

4/14/2006 9:59:00 PM | Baseball

By: MT Media Relations

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Adam Warren drove in four runs and Matt Campbell's solo homerun in the eighth was the final margin in Middle Tennessee's 6-5 victory over Western Kentucky Friday night at Reese Smith Field. Warren had a three-run homer in the third inning and a fielder's choice ion the fifth drove in another run. Marcus Taylor's round-tripper in the sixth tied the contest and Campbell's solo shot to leadoff the eighth, just his second career hit and first home run, was the difference for the Blue Raiders (16-13, 4-3). The Hilltoppers (14-15, 2-8) took an early 1-0 lead, but Middle Tennessee answered with Warren's three-run shot in the third. The teams traded runs in the fifth before WKU scored three times in the sixth to take the lead. But Taylor's sixth homer of the year tied the game at five, a line drive that cleared the wall in leftcenter. Campbell then belted an 0-1 pitch over the wall in leftfield for the game-winner. Middle Tennessee starter Matt Scott allowed five runs on 11 hits in 7.0 innings, striking out three and not allowing a walk. Brett Reilley (1-1) tossed one shutout inning, working out of a jam in the eighth after allowing a leadoff double. Josh Anderson struck out the only batter he faced in the ninth and Allan Woodward struck out the final two batters of the contest, three and four-hole hitters Scotty Colt and Jordan Newton, for his second save of the year. WKU starter Liam Shanahan (3-3) gave up six runs on nine hits in 7.2 innings, walking three and striking out eight. He allowed three home runs, including a pair of solo shots, and threw 122 pitches. Matt Ransdell had three hits for the Hilltoppers, while Casey Hamilton collected a double and a triple and Josh Rodgers recorded a pair of doubles in WKU's 13-hit attack. Jeff Beachum and Michael McKenry both had a pair of hits for the Blue Raiders, who won for the eighth time in 10 games this season and the third straight time over Western Kentucky dating to last season. WKU scored first with a run in the second after Hamilton's bad-hop triple down the rightfield line. Dennis Winn's groundout plated Hamilton for an early 1-0 lead. The Blue Raiders took the lead in the third on a big two-out hit from Warren. Wayne Kendrick walked with one out and McKenry followed with a double down the leftfield line. Todd Martin struck out but Warren came through, lining the first pitch over the wall in leftcenter for his third home run of the season. The Hilltoppers cut into the lead with a run in the fifth when Ransdell singled with one out, moved to second on a bunt and scored on Colt's single off the glove of a diving Kendrick. WKU took the lead with three runs on four hits in the sixth, including a big blow from Ransdell. Hamilton doubled to leadoff and Winn followed with an RBI single. Scriven then singled to right with one out and Jack Ambrose's groundout moved the runners to second and third. Ransdell's single to short center scored both runners for a 5-4 'Toppers lead. The Blue Raiders tied the game, though, in the bottom of the inning, thanks to a solo homer to leftcenter from Taylor, his sixth of the season. Campbell's solo home run in the eighth, just his second career hit in 10 career at-bats and first home run, gave the Blue Raiders the lead. The two teams play again at 4 p.m. Saturday and conclude the three-game series Sunday at 1 p.m. GAME NOTES
Matt Campbell started at first base for the first time in his career. It was also Campbell's first-ever start in a Sun Belt game ... Jeff Beachum extended his hitting streak to seven games with a single to leadoff the first ... Adam Warren extended his hitting streak to five games with a home run in the third, his third round-tripper of the season ... Wayne Kendrick extended his hitting streak to a career-high 11 games with a single in the fifth ... Allan Woodward's save gives the senior six for his career, tying him with Steve Kline (2001-04) and Dean Hanks (1991-92) for 10th on the all-time list.