The Culver-Stockton College baseball team plated eight runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back in ripping Western Illinois University 17-6 Thursday afternoon in Macomb, Ill.
The Wildcats scored eight times on seven base hits and was helped by two Leatherneck errors in the inning. The big blow was a two-run homer from Nicko Garibay and a RBI triple by Danny Rutledge.
C-SC added four more runs in the third inning, a single run in the sixth inning, and four more runs in the eighth inning. The Wildcats banged out 19 hits, including five extra-base hits. Of those five, three were home runs by Garibay, Sal Rivera and Jeremy Malmendier.
Six Wildcat players has at least two runs batted in each, including Garibay, who finished with a team-high four RBI on the day. He was 2 for 6 in the game.
Joining Garibay in the offensive onslaught was Andre Terrell, who was four for five with two RBI, and Kurt Kessler, who was three for five with two RBI.
On the mound, starter Jason Payne went seven innings, allowing eight hits and four runs. He walked five and struckout seven in evening his record at 2-2.
Brady Pearce hurled the final two innings, allowing two runs on three hits.
The Wildcats (16-14) return to Macomb on Monday, April 5, to play the Leathernecks in a single game. Game time is slated for 3:30 p.m.
