NEW ORLEANS - Matt Rice went 3-for-5 with three RBIs - including a solo home run -- as Western Kentucky opened Sun Belt Conference play with a 17-1 win at New Orleans on Friday.
Jared Andreoli added two hits and three RBIs, while Blake Crabtree went 2-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs scored to lead WKU (10-4, 1-0 Sun Belt). The Hilltoppers had 16 hits overall.
WKU senior right-hander Matt Ridings (3-0) went 6 2/3 innings, struck out eight and allowed only two hits to pick up his third win in three outings this year. It was his 29th career win, tying him for victories on the WKU all-time list.
The Hilltopper pitchers recorded 12 strikeouts overall.
The Privateers (3-7, 0-1) were held to two hits, though designated hitter Jay Morris notched an RBI double.
Sophomore right-hander Joe Zimmermann (0-3) surrendered nine hits and 10 runs in 4 1/3 innings, however only six were earned. UNO struggled defensively, committing a season-high five errors.
The Hilltoppers scored three runs in the second inning and led 5-0 in the fourth before Morris got UNO on the board with a two-out RBI double.
WKU answered, though, with six runs in the fifth - including a two-run single from Rice.
The Hilltoppers scored in each of the final eight innings.
The two teams will continue the three-game series at 4 p.m. on Saturday.
