BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The Western Kentucky University baseball team rallied to tie the game in the eighth before a 12th-inning RBI single by Louisiana-Monroe catcher Logan Fiasco lifted the Wahawks past the Hilltoppers, 7-6, in Sunday's series finale at Nick Denes Field.
WKU (18-26, 9-12 Sun Belt Conference) led 5-2 after four innings but saw ULM (21-23, 9-12) tally two runs in the fifth and two in the seventh to pull in front, 6-5. The Hilltoppers pushed a run across in the eighth to tie the score and threatened with the bases loaded in the ninth and runners at first and second in the 11th before Fiasco's single in the 12th.
"Our kids played really hard, and that's all I ask them to do," WKU coach Matt Myers said. "We had three or four chances there to win it late, and you can't be mad. We were right there. We grinded it out for two days, and outside of the one inning Friday, we played extremely tough. That's the game of baseball; it doesn't go your way sometimes."
Redshirt senior Ross Hammonds (0-5) worked the final six innings, giving up two runs - one earned - on six hits with a pair of walks and six strikeouts.
Warhawks left-hander Kendall Thamm (4-2) gave up a hit with two walks and two strikeouts in three shutout innings.
Offensively, WKU third baseman Casey Dykes and Ryan Hutchison each had tallied three hits. Second baseman Scott Wilcox went 2-for-6 with two doubles and three RBIs. Shortstop Steve Hodgins also had a pair of hits while left fielder David Simmons and Dykes each recorded an RBI.
The Hilltoppers took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning on a run-scoring single by Simmons and an RBI double by Wilcox. Hodgins scored on the single after leading off the inning with his first career triple.
ULM tied the game at 2-2 in the top of the fourth inning on a two-run double by first baseman Joey Rapp.
WKU used a three-run bottom of the fourth to pull in front 5-3. A two-run double by Wilcox and an RBI groundout by Dykes accounted for the scoring.
The Warhawks got an RBI bunt single by left fielder Les Aulds and a sacrifice fly by second baseman Caleb Clowers to cut the WKU lead to 5-4 in the top of the fifth.
ULM took its first lead of the day, 6-5, with two runs in the top of the seventh. An RBI groundout by Clowers tied the game before an RBI double by Rapp put the Warhawks in front.
The Hilltoppers tied the game with a run in the bottom of the eighth. After pinch runner Blake Crabtree advanced to second on a failed pickoff throw, he moved up to third base on a fly ball to center by first baseman Ryan Huck and came into score on an errant throw by Brandon Alexander.
With two outs in the bottom of the 12th, Simmons drew a walk and advanced to third on a wild pitch and a throwing error by the catcher. Thamm ended the game by getting center fielder Jared Andreoli to strike out.
Sophomore left-hander Austin Clay gave up four runs on six hits in five innings with a pair of strikeouts in his first career SBC start. Clay did not issue a walk and retired the first 10 batters he faced. Redshirt freshman Tate Glasscock was touched for a run on two hits and a walk in one inning.
Warhawks starter Cale Wine allowed five runs on five hits with five walks and four strikeouts in 5-1/3 innings.
The Hilltoppers close their current nine-game homestand on Tuesday with a 6 p.m. matchup against nationally-ranked Louisville at Bowling Green Ballpark. The Cardinals are ranked No. 20 by NCBWA, No. 23 by USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll and No. 26 by Collegiate Baseball in polls released Monday. WKU then travels for a three-game league series at Florida Atlantic, May 4-6.
