Hilltoppers Battle Back from Five-Run Deficit in Win over Belmont

Tuesday, April 5

Bowling Green, KY

5:00 PM CT

Western Kentucky University

11-17

Belmont

19-10

Belmont

WKU

Photo by: Wyatt Richardson/WKU Athletics

Hilltoppers Battle Back from Five-Run Deficit in Win over Belmont

4/5/2022 11:56:00 PM | Baseball

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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Baseball battled back from a five-run deficit to earn a 9-8 victory over Belmont on Tuesday night at Nick Denes Field.

After the Bruins jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the top of fifth frame, the Hilltoppers used a grand slam by Brian McAuliffe in the bottom of the inning and a four-run eighth-inning explosion to earn the eventual 9-8 win.

"I'm really excited about the way we came back," said head coach John Pawlowski. "That's a great sign. This year hasn't been easy for the group, but they keep believing and they found a way tonight. Belmont went out and had a big inning with five runs, but then we came back and put four on the board to get us right back in the game. When I look at it – when I sit back down and go through everything – it's probably one of our better team wins this year."

Luke Stofel earned the starting nod for WKU, allowing four runs while striking out four batters in 4.0 frames. The Hilltoppers utilized six relief pitchers from there, with Lane Diuguid picking up the win and Mason Vinyard earning his team-high sixth save of the season.

Offensively, the Hilltoppers racked up 10 hits and three walks, with two players producing multi-hit performances. Ty Batusich led the way with a 3-for-5 outing, adding an RBI and run, while Tristin Garcia went 2-for-5 to go along with two runs and two RBI.

SCORING SUMMARY

Belmont opened the scoring in the third inning, scoring on an RBI groundout to go ahead 1-0.

WKU answered back in the bottom of the frame, with Garcia blasting his first home run of the season over the right field wall to tie things up at one apiece.

The Bruins then exploded for five runs in the top of the fifth to jump out to a 6-1 lead.

A grand slam by McAuliffe in the bottom of the fifth later put the score at 6-5.

Belmont would then go on to add runs in the seventh and eighth inning via a home run and RBI double to extend their lead to 8-5.

A four-run outburst in the bottom of the eighth would later give WKU the lead for good, starting off with an RBI by Ty Crittenberger to plate McAuliffe. An RBI groundout by Jackson Gray then brought the Hilltoppers within one run before an RBI double by Garcia tied the game. Batusich capped things off for the Hilltoppers, giving the squad a 9-8 lead following an RBI double to center field.

UP NEXT

The Hilltoppers will jump back into conference play with a three-game series against FIU beginning at 5 p.m. CT on Friday, April 8 at Nick Denes Field.