BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Baseball recorded its sixth walk-off win of the season to split its doubleheader against Florida Atlantic on Friday afternoon at Nick Denes Field.
After dropping game one, 6-3, the Hilltoppers battled back from a one-run deficit in the final frame of game two to come away with the 6-5 victory following a walk-off RBI-single by Justin Carlin.
"It was an unbelievable at-bat," said head coach John Pawlowski of Carlin's walk-off. "He laid off some tough pitches and then hit a ball down the line - it was exciting to see."
Jake Kates earned the starting nod in game one of the doubleheader, allowing six runs while fanning six in 4.2 frames. Dalton Shoemake entered in the fifth to relieve Kates, tossing 2.1 innings of hitless ball while striking out one batter.
At the plate, the Hilltoppers tallied eight hits, with Ricardo Leonett producing the lone multi-hit effort of the game after going 2-for-3.
Sean Bergeron started on the mound in game two, allowing three runs while downing one batter in 4.0 frames. Mason Vinyard, Aaron Shiflet and Bailey Sutton all saw relief action in the game, with the trio combining to allow just three hits and two runs while fanning a pair in 3.0 innings.
Offensively, the Hilltoppers racked up eight hits, with three players producing multi-hit performances in the contest. Carlin, Jackson Gray and Ray Zuberer III each recorded two hits apiece, with Carlin and Zuberer also adding home runs in the matchup.
SCORING SUMMARY (GAME 1)
WKU got on the board first, scoring all three of its runs in the third inning. Gray started things off with an RBI-single through the right side, followed by an RBI-single by Richard Constantine and sac fly by Matthew Meyer to make it 3-0.
The Owls then broke the game open in the fifth, scoring all six of their runs in the frame to earn the eventual 6-3 victory.
SCORING SUMMARY (GAME 2)
The Hilltoppers again jumped out to an early lead in game two, with RBI-singles by Meyer and Kevin Lambert giving the squad a 2-0 lead in the first frame.
Florida Atlantic then used four runs in the top of the fifth to take the lead following a three-run homer and RBI-double.
WKU answered back in the bottom of the frame, with back-to-back bombs by Zuberer and Carlin knotting the game at 4-4.
The Owls then pulled ahead in the top of the seventh, sending a solo shot over the left field wall to take a one-run lead.
The Hilltoppers answered back in their last appearance at the plate, with Zuberer using an RBI-single to tie the game before Carlin's walk-off RBI-single gave WKU the 6-5 victory.
UP NEXT
The Hilltoppers will hold Senior Day prior to their 1 p.m. CT matchup with Florida Atlantic on Saturday, May 8 at Nick Denes Field. There is also the potential to play a doubleheader on Saturday, with that decision expected to be made at approximately 10 a.m. tomorrow.
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
