Western Kentucky 2007
(11-14, 5-4) (bRPI 91, aRPI 92)

2006
Cajuns won 11-3, 3-1, and 13-3 in Lafayette.

Western Kentucky has played a solid non-conference schedule which includes a win over Oklahoma (#11 aRPI). Notable non-conference losses include South Carolina, Vanderbilt (0-2), Louisville, and Kentucky. Hence, the Hilltoppers have seen some of the best the nation has to offer. Western Kentucky is coming off of a weekend in which it nearly swept 2006 conference champion Troy.

Gone from this year’s squad are Jordan Newton, Matt Ransdell, and J.C. Faircloth. The Hilltoppers feature a number of new players on the roster this season. In addition, the squad is quite young as underclassmen comprise 6/9 positions in the starting lineup and 11/16 pitchers. 7/9 position players are either freshman or JC transfers.

Leading the Hilltoppers on the mound is Senior right-hander Liam Shanahan (1-5, 6.75, .373 OBA). Shanahan is not an overpowering fellow, but throws strikes, has the capability to work the outer edge, and has a good change. Shanahan hit a rough patch for a few weeks after the opening weekend. This is just my opinion, but I think that Shanahan was throwing too much in the month of March and may have been a bit tired. He registered an astounding seven starts in March and spans where he started three times in seven days. Shanahan threw well in a 3-1 loss to Buddy Glass last season in what was the only close game of the series.

Coach Chris Finwood will send two freshmen to the mound Saturday and Sunday. Right-hander Matt Ridings (3-1, 4.11, .263 OBA) gets the call in Game #2 while southpaw Brent Carter (4-2, 5.10, .311 OBA) will go in Game #3. Ridings had a brilliant performance against Oklahoma where he pitched 5 innings of shutout ball for the win. Senior right-hander Steve Hupper (0-1, 6.32, .338 OBA, 2 Saves) is one of the key hurlers out of the bullpen and was the Sunday starter last season. The bullpen is laced with transfers from Florida, Auburn, and Winthrop. While the overall numbers have not been impressive (6.35, .317 OBA), the Hilltoppers have faced some potent offensive lineups this season. However, some of the bullpen has really struggled to throw strikes. It is interesting to note that Western Kentucky has two more conference pitchers of the week (Ridings and Carter) than the Cajuns.

Senior DH Casey Hamilton leads the Hilltoppers offensively, hitting a smooth .406 with six round-trippers. This is off of a 2006 campaign where he hit .333. Hamilton is hitting .528 in Sun Belt conference games this season. There is plenty more pop in the lineup provided by Freshman 1B Wade Gaynor (.345, 1 HR, 12 RBI), Sophomore SS Terrence Dayleg (.340, 2 HR, 20 RBI), Freshman RF Troy Frazier (.333, 2 HR, 10 RBI), Sophomore LF Matt Hightower (.303, 1 HR, 6 RBI) (Transfer from Florida), and Junior CF Scott Kaskie (.341, 3 HR, 18 RBI) (12 game hitting streak). Senior Scotty Colt is off to a slow start (.252, 1 HR, 18 RBI), but is capable as evidenced by his (.351, 6 HR, 51 RBI) numbers from last season. Much like past Cajun teams, the Hilltoppers have been impressive in the field, fielding at a .968 clip.

Look for some runs to be scored this weekend (with the possible exception of Friday night) and much more fight out of the 2007 edition of Western Kentucky. This is a team that can play spoiler in the Sun Belt of 2007.

Brian