Hilltoppers Close Weekend with Win Over Bulldogs

Sunday, March 26

Bowling Green, KY

1:00 PM CT

Western Kentucky University

16-9, 2-4

Louisiana Tech

12-12, 3-3

Louisiana Tech

WKU

3/26/2023 5:12:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Baseball defeated Louisiana Tech for the first time since 2019 5-2 to avoid the series sweep on Sunday afternoon at Nick Denes Field.

Devyn Terbrak was an inning shy of going the distance while two Hilltopper home runs from Drew Reckart and Ty Crittenberger helped WKU get the win and improve to 16-9 (2-4 in C-USA) on the year.

"I think it's everything, getting that last win of the series," said head coach Marc Rardin. "I cannot explain how huge it is. Just to show character, show growth in what we are trying to do. With a new foundation, a new mindset, and the culture. With that, you cannot lay over and just give up. If you are going to backdoor your way into a tournament at the end, you cannot get swept, so I think it was big in so many ways."

Sunday starter, LHP Devyn Terbrak earned his third win of the season nearly going the distance in his fifth appearance of the year. The senior lefty recorded just 88 pitches in 8.0 innings only allowing two runs on six hits and one walk. CJ Weins closed things out in the ninth claiming his fourth save thus far without allowing a base runner in the final frame, while also tallying a strikeout.

Offensively, two Hilltoppers produced milt-hit performances, led by a 3-for-4 outing from Ty Crittenberger with a long ball, an RBI, and three runs scored while Drew Reckart also launched a two-run shot and scored twice himself.

SCORING SUMMARY

The Tops struck first in the bottom of the first frame with a two-run jack from Drew Reckart to give them a 2-0 lead.

Louisiana Tech responded with a two-run long ball of its own, tying the game at 2-2 in the top of the fourth.

WKU reclaimed its two-run lead with an RBI infield single from Tristin Garcia and an RBI single from Kirk Liebert put the Tops up 4-2 after four innings.

A no-doubter home run from Ty Crittenberger added an insurance run for the Hilltoppers in the eighth giving WKU a three-run lead while the defense held up in the top of the ninth to make the final score, 5-2.

UP NEXT

The Hilltoppers will host a midweek matchup against SEC foe, Kentucky, next Tuesday, March 28, starting at 5 p.m. CT at Nick Denes Field.

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.