NORFOLK, Va. – WKU Baseball earned its first win over a ranked opponent since 2018 after recording a thrilling 7-6 extra-inning victory in the backend of its doubleheader against No. 23 Old Dominion on Saturday afternoon at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex.
The last time the Hilltoppers bested a ranked opponent was on April 7, 2018, when the squad earned a 7-1 road victory over No. 13 Southern Miss.
After dropping the opener of its doubleheader via a 6-3 final, WKU jumped out to an early 6-0 lead in game two before the Monarchs fought back to send it into extras, with the Hilltoppers eventually coming out on top following an RBI-single by Kevin Lambert in the eighth inning.
"ODU is a very good team," said head coach John Pawlowski. "There's a lot of threats up and down that lineup. They're never out of a game. They've got some power and there's a reason why they're at where they're at. I'm just really proud of our group to come back – last night was a kind of a different type of game – and then game one we drop 6-3 but then we come back and win this one 7-6. Big win for us here on the road against a very good team."
Sean Bergeron earned the starting nod in game one of the doubleheader, surrendering five runs (three earned) while striking out six in 4.1 frames. Dalton Shoemake and Ryan O'Connell both saw relief action in the game, combining to allow two hits and one run while striking out one batter in 1.2 innings.
At the plate, the Hilltoppers tallied six hits and three walks, with two players producing multi-hit performances. Ray Zuberer III led the way, going 2-for-2 to go along with two walks, while Lambert went 2-for-3 with a run.
Devyn Terbrak started on the mound in game two, allowing six runs (five earned) while recording four strikeouts in 6.2 innings of work. Bailey Sutton and Mason Vinyard both entered in relief to close things out, with Sutton picking up the win and Vinyard recording the save after striking out two and not allowing a hit in the final frame.
Offensively, the Hilltoppers racked up eight hits and 10 walks, with three players recording multi-hit efforts in the contest. Jackson Gray led the way with a 3-for-5 performance to go along with three RBI and three runs, while Lambert and Matthew Meyer each added two hits apiece in the matchup.
SCORING SUMMARY (GAME 1)
WKU opened the scoring in game one, tallying two runs in the second inning, with Ricardo Leonett recording a sac fly and Lambert scoring off an Old Dominion throwing error.
The Monarchs then pulled ahead in the third, using three RBI-singles to take a 3-2 lead.
The Hilltoppers evened the score in the top of the fourth, with a solo shot over the left field wall by Meyer making it 3-3.
Old Dominion answered back in the bottom of the inning, using a two-run homer to jump back ahead.
The Monarchs then used an RBI-double in the sixth to earn a 6-3 advantage and the eventual victory.
SCORING SUMMARY (GAME 2)
The Hilltoppers again opened the scoring in game two, with Meyer earning a bases-loaded walk to give the squad a 1-0 lead in the first frame.
WKU then jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the second inning, with Gray blasting a three-run bomb before Richard Constantine scored off an Old Dominion error.
The Hilltoppers later tacked on another run in the fourth frame following an RBI-double down the left field line by Lambert, making it 6-0.
Old Dominion scored its first run of the game in the fifth frame, using an RBI-single through the left side to put the score at 6-1.
The Monarchs then used a two-run blast in the sixth to make it 6-3.
In the seventh inning, Old Dominion recorded an RBI-single and scored off a wild pitch to make it a one-run game before an RBI-double to left field tied things up at 6-6 with two outs in the frame. The Monarchs then had a chance to walk it off, hitting a ball to left field and waving the runner from second home, but Junior Coleman snagged the ball off the bounce and threw out the runner at the plate to send the game into extras.
With two down and runners on first and second in the top of the eighth, an RBI-single to right field by Lambert was the difference, giving WKU a 7-6 lead and the eventual victory.
UP NEXT
The Hilltoppers will close out their series against No. 23 Old Dominion at 11 a.m. CT on Sunday, May 16 at the Bud Metheny Baseball Complex.
Western Kentucky University Athletics
- Champions Climb Here
- WKU Athletics
- Athletic Director
- Academic Services
- Annual Report
- Athletic Communications
- Athletic Hall of Fame
- Athletic Training
- CLIMB Program - NIL
- Compliance
- Facilities
- Financial Reports
- For Students
- Student Employment
- Forms/Requests
- Book Big Red
- Donation Requests
- Site Feedback
- For Fans
- Hilltopper Highlights
- Gameday Promotions
- Alumni Tailgates
- Big Red's Rascals
- Basketball Gameday
- Football Gameday
- Mobile Tickets
- Travel Center
- Tickets
- Give
