MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Western Kentucky University baseball team suffered a 7-2 loss Sunday afternoon as Middle Tennessee evened the weekend series at Reese Smith Field.
The two teams returned to action Sunday afternoon after Saturday night's game was suspended after eight innings with MTSU leading 6-2 due to inclement weather in the Murfreesboro area. The game featured four rain delays that totaled 3 hours and 26 minutes.
WKU (8-10, 1-1 Sun Belt Conference) tallied a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning but couldn't overcome an early deficit as MTSU (11-8, 1-1) took a 6-0 lead after three innings.
Hilltoppers designated hitter Justin Hageman, third baseman Blake Crabtree and second baseman Ivan Hartle each tallied a pair of hits to lead the offense. Hageman and left fielder Adam Lavelle accounted for the RBIs.
Blue Raiders freshman Johnathan Frebis (2-1) limited WKU to two runs on four hits through six innings while walking two and striking out seven.
Hilltoppers starter Ian Tompkins (2-1) allowed six runs on four hits in three innings with four walks and four strikeouts.
The Blue Raiders took an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. A two-run single by right fielder Trent Miller and an RBI single from second baseman Johnny Thomas accounted for the scoring.
A three-run home run by Miller in the bottom of the third put MTSU in front 6-0.
WKU got on the board with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning to make the score 6-2. Left fielder Adam Lavelle drove home a run with a fielder's choice followed by an RBI single by Hageman.
MTSU added a run in the bottom of the eighth on a sacrifice fly by center fielder Ryan Stephens to take a 7-2 lead.
WKU freshman Brennan Pearson allowed two hits in three shutout innings of relief. He struck out a career-high five and did not issue a walk. Redshirt freshman Tate Glasscock threw a scoreless seventh inning. Sophomore Austin Clay allowed a run in two-thirds of an inning and junior Colton Saterlee retired the one batter he faced.
In the third game of the series, the Hilltoppers will send junior left-hander Tim Bado (1-2, 2.45 ERA) to the mound against Blue Raiders junior right-hander Jonathan Sisco (3-0, 1.04).
