With the win, Western finished the regular season 30-26 and 12-12 in the Sun Belt Conference, finishing in a four-way tie for fourth place in the league. However, due to tie-breaking scenarios, the Hilltoppers will be the seventh seed in next week's Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Mobile, Ala. WKU will open tournament play against host South Alabama at 6:30 p.m. (CDT) on Wednesday (May 26). New Orleans finished 27-26 and 13-10 in the league. It will be the third seed in the conference tournament.
Trailing 11-9 entering the bottom of the ninth, Dennis Winn ripped a one-out single, and moved to third on a single by Matt Johnston. Rio then came up as a pinch hitter for Judd Robertson and hit a one-ball, one-strike pitch over the wall in left to give the Hilltoppers the 12-11 victory.
The HIlltoppers found themselves in an early hole as starter James Mantzanis walked leadoff hitter Joe Pietro, the gave up a single to Justin Guy. One out later, Mike Forbes hit a three-run home run to left as UNO opened up an early 3-0 lead.
After going down in order in its first two at bats, Western took the lead in the bottom of the third without the benefit of a hit. UNO starter Matt Crockett hit Johnston to start the frame, then walked the next three batters to force home WKU's first run. A Tim Grogan sacrifice fly plated Judd Robertson and Matt Gunning tied the game when he plated Jordan Newton with an RBI groundout. Marcus Ross then reached on an error by Privateer third baseman Jay Yaconetti as Matt Ransdell came around from second on the play to score and give the Toppers a 4-3 lead.
Western got three unearned runs in the fourth to stretch its lead to four. Johnston again set the stage with a one-out walk, and with two outs, UNO reliever Chris Bourgeois hit Newton and walked Ransdell to load the bases. Grogan then hit a pop up right in front of the plate, but Yaconetti came in and was unable to make the catch as all three runners scored on the play to make it a 7-3 game.
The Privateers were able retake the lead with eight runs in the fifth. UNO started the inning with two straight infield singles off reliever Igor Roiberg. Cody Valverde then came through with an RBI single to make it a 7-4 game with nobody out. Kenny Griffin entered the game and hit Forbes to load the bases. Two straight RBI groundouts by Yaconetti and Mike Nuckles made it a 7-6 game. Griffin then gave up a bunt single to Ryan Meyer to put runners at the corners. Meyer moved into scoring position with a stolen base, and Tony Gonzalez gave UNO the lead once again as his two-RBI single made it an 8-7 game. A walk and Hilltopper error loaded the bases, and Griffin hit Justin Guy to force home the sixth run of the inning for a 9-7 Privateer lead. Valverde then capped off the inning with a two-RBI single to stretch the lead to 11-7.
The Hilltoppers finally got their first hit of the game in the sixth as Johnston led off with a single up the middle. Newton then ripped a one-out single, and both runners moved into scoring position on a Bourgeois balk. Ransdell then doubled to left to drive home both runners and pull the Hilltoppers within two at 11-9 before the events of the bottom of the ninth.
Ransdell, Winn and Johnston each had two hits to lead Western, while Valverde and Meyer each put together four-hit games for the Privateers.
Brett Korth (3-2) picked up the win in relief, while Birely (7-6) suffered the loss for UNO.
