Toppers Hit Three More Long Balls Friday

Friday, April 28

Ruston, La.

6:00 PM

Western Kentucky University

13-30, 4-15

Louisiana Tech

28-14, 9-10

WKU

Louisiana Tech

4/28/2017 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

Box Score (PDF) | Season Statistics

RUSTON, La. — WKU Baseball continued to hit the long ball, but a late rally by Louisiana Tech downed the visitors by a score of 6-5 on Friday night. Kaleb Duckworth and Hunter Wood each hit two-run shots, while Colie Currie launched a solo blast to account for all of the team's runs.

Duckworth went deep for the second straight game in his first at-bat, scoring Chris Rogers on a two-run shot to right-center field in the second inning. Currie led off the third inning with by clearing the J.C. Love Field fence in the same direction, knocking Bulldogs starter Cameron Linck out of the game.

Ryan Thurston started for the Hilltoppers and finished the fourth frame with a 3-0 lead on 54 pitches. He encountered some trouble in the fifth inning, when LA Tech tied the game with three runs, sending eight to the plate in the process. The lefty ended his outing by striking out two swinging, completing five innings with four punch outs while allowing three runs - two earned.

But back came WKU in the top of the sixth, as Hunter Wood hit a two-run dinger as a right-handed batter for the first time this season. Thomas Peter, who led off the inning with a bloop single to right, scored on the catcher's sixth long ball of the year.

With a 5-3 lead, the Hilltoppers bullpen threw a scoreless sixth inning but allowed three runs to the home team in the seventh. The WKU bats were retired in order in the final two frames.

What's Up Next
The Hilltoppers and Bulldogs will play Saturday, April 29 beginning at 5 p.m. and then in the series finale Sunday, April 30 at 1 p.m. There were thoughts of a Saturday doubleheader, but weather patterns changed and the weekend schedule reverted back to its original plan.