NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Western Kentucky University baseball rallied with three runs in the ninth and one in the tenth to pick up a 4-3 victory over Lipscomb University on Wednesday night at Ken Dugan Field at Stephen L. Marsh Stadium.
After WKU (15-22) tied the game at 3-3 in the top ninth, junior center fielder Jared Andreoli led off the top of the 10th with a single to center field. Andreoli then advanced to second on a wild pitch and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt before coming into score the winning run on a wild pitch.
Lipscomb (17-20) out hit the Hilltoppers 11-2 but committed three errors and saw its pitchers issue eight walks. Six Bisons pitchers combined for 17 strikeouts in the game.
WKU junior right-hander Taylor Haydel (3-3) allowed a hit in a pair of scoreless innings. He recorded a strikeout and faced the minimum after picking a runner off first.
Bisons reliever Dannie Strable (1-2) took the loss after giving up a run on one hit in the tenth.
Andreoli and designated hitter Adam Lavelle accounted for the two WKU hits, while Lavelle and catcher Ryan Huck each had an RBI. Andreoli also drew a pair of walks, as did right fielder Ryan Hutchison.
The Hilltoppers rallied to tie the game with three runs in the top of the ninth. Following first baseman Scott Wilcox reaching on an error, third baseman Casey Dykes and Hutchison drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Wilcox scored the first run when he came home on a wild pitch. An infield single by Lavelle pushed the second run across and a sacrifice fly by Huck knotted the score at 3-3.
Lipscomb got on the board with an unearned run in the bottom of the second. After reaching on a single with two outs and advancing to second, left fielder Ricky Coleman came in to score on a throwing error by Dykes.
The Bisons took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth behind an RBI double by center fielder Zach Lowery and a run-scoring single by Coleman.
Hilltoppers sophomore Austin Clay was touched for three runs - two earned - on six hits in 5-1/3 innings. The left-hander did not issue a walk and struck out two in the start.
Redshirt freshman Tate Glasscock worked 1-1/3 scoreless innings with a pair of strikeouts in relief of Clay. Right-hander Ross Hammonds allowed a hit with three strikeouts in 1-1/3 innings.
Bisons starting pitcher Will Blalock did not allow a hit over five shutout innings with five walks and eight strikeouts.
WKU closes out the month of April with an eight-game homestand beginning this weekend when Troy comes to Bowling Green for a three-game Sun Belt Conference series at Nick Denes Field. Game times are scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.
