MIAMI - The Western Kentucky University baseball team suffered its first Sun Belt Conference loss of the season Sunday afternoon as FIU rallied for three runs in the bottom of the 10th to hand the Hilltoppers a 9-8 defeat at University Park.
With WKU (16-7, 5-1 Sun Belt) leading 8-6 in the bottom of the 10th, a two-out, RBI double by Panthers right fielder Yoandy Barroso cut the deficit to one before a two-run single by left fielder Pablo Bermudez gave FIU (15-11, 2-4) the extra-inning win.
The Hilltoppers took a two-run lead in the top of the 10th after they tallied pair of runs on an RBI single by first baseman Rayn Huck and a fielder error that allowed center fielder Kes Carter to score from third.
The WKU offense finished the game with 16 hits and has now collected double-digit hits in 16 of 23 games this season. The Hilltoppers left a total of 17 runners on base including stranding the bases loaded in the sixth, seventh and 10th innings.
Left fielder Jared Andreoli and right fielder Ryan Hutchison each finished the game 3-for-6 with Hutchison driving in a pair of runs. Second baseman Ivan Hartle and designated hitter Chris Bullard also tallied two RBIs.
WKU reliever Rye Davis (1-2) allowed two runs - none earned - in two-thirds of an inning with a strikeout.
FIU junior Garrett Wittels, the seventh Panthers pitcher of the day, picked up the win after allowing two runs - one earned - on two hits while a pair of walks and a strikeout in one inning.
The Hilltoppers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third on an RBI triple by Hartle, scoring third baseman Casey Dykes who walked to lead off the inning.
A pair of two-run home runs in the top of the fourth by Hutchison, his second of the season, and Bullard, the first of his career, put WKU in front 5-0.
FIU got on the board with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 5-2. Back-to-back, two-out RBI singles by left fielder Pablo Bermudez and third baseman Jeremy Patton accounted for the scoring.
A solo home run by Panthers first baseman Rudy Flores to lead off the bottom of the sixth cut the WKU advantage to 5-3.
WKU added a run in the top of the eighth inning on a solo home run by Hartle, his second of the year, to make the score 6-3.
FIU tied the game at 6-6 in the bottom of the eight innings on a three-run home run by catcher Jose Behar. Designated hitter Mike Martinez and second baseman T.J. Shantz scored on the play after reaching base on back-to-back singles.
Hilltoppers starting pitcher Brian Edelen allowed two runs on four hits with three walks and a season-high five strikeouts in five innings. The senior shut out the Panthers threw 4-2/3 innings, including a stretch where he retired 10 of 11.
Sophomore Taylor Haydel worked a pair of shutout innings while right handers Ross Hammonds and Phil Wetherell combined to allow four runs - three earned - on four hits in two innings.
The Hilltoppers will play a pair of games this week beginning with a 5 p.m. Central time road matchup at Louisville on Tuesday followed by a home game Wednesday against Belmont at 6 p.m.
