Hilltoppers Evasive Base Running Helps Complete Sweep of Flyers

Sunday, February 19

Bowling Green, KY

1:00 PM CT

Western Kentucky University

3-0

Dayton

0-3

DAYTON

WKU

Hilltoppers Evasive Base Running Helps Complete Sweep of Flyers

2/19/2023 4:49:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Baseball swept the Dayton Flyers with a 7-1 win on Saturday afternoon at Nick Denes Field. The Hilltoppers move to 3-0 after their opening series for the first time since 2019.

Tied at 0-0 in the bottom of the second inning, Brayden Johnson hit a double to left center and was able to come all the way around the bases after a throwing error by the Flyers defense made its way into the Hilltopper dugout to start what was a tremendous day for the Hallsville, Texas native in a 7-1 win for the Hilltoppers to earn the sweep over the Flyers.

"It is great to know were off to a great start," said Johnson. "We have a great coaching staff. They prepare us. It honestly did not feel like we were "in the game" because of how he prepared us prior to the game. We are all a link in the chain, we build off each other."

Senior pitcher Devyn Terbrak earned the start and the decision on the mound today in his 2023 debut. The lefty recorded three strikeouts in five innings only allowing one run on four hits with zero walks. Dawson Hall, Jack Bennett, Cam Tullar, and Dalton Mesaris each saw one inning of work a piece in the final four frames. Combined, they recorded six strikeouts in four innings, while allowing zero runs on two hits with one walk. Hall made his collegiate debut, striking out two batters, while not allowing a single base runner and Tullar had three strikeouts of his own in the eighth inning, along with one hit and one walk.

At the dish, WKU racked up six hits and five walks, with Matthew Meyer producing the only multi-hit effort. The senior went 2-for-4 with two singles and two RBI. Brayden Johnson had the lone double in the contest to go along with three runs scored and a stolen base. Lukas Farris, Kirk Liebert, and Drew Reckart all added an RBI a piece to contribute to the seven scored runs for the Hilltoppers.

SCORING SUMMARY

In the bottom of the second inning, Brayden Johnson hit a double to left center and an errant throw by the Flyers defense went into the WKU dugout as Johnson was rounding second to advance him all the way home and put the Tops up 1-0.

A sacrifice fly from Lukas Farris scored Tristin Garcia from third and advance Ty Batusich to third to make the score 2-0 in the bottom of the third.

With two outs, the Hilltoppers rallied, scratching four more runs in the third off a two-out single from Kirk Liebert to score Batusich. After a few miscues from the Flyers, Drew Reckart walked with the bases loaded to score Liebert and the final two runs of the inning came from a two-RBI single from Matthew Meyer up the middle scoring Aidan Gilroy and Brayden Johnson.

Dayton put its only run up on the board in the top of the fourth in an inning that saw the bases loaded with no outs come off a sacrifice fly.

The final run of the contest came from no other than Brayden Johnson after he stole third base and a bad throw from the Flyers catcher gave him the green light to score.

UP NEXT

The Hilltoppers will head to Nashville, Tenn. to take on the Belmont Bruins at 4 p.m. CT on Tuesday, Feb. 21.

How to follow WKU Baseball: For complete information on WKU Hilltopper Baseball, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program via social media @WKU_Baseball on Twitter and @WKUBaseball Instagram.