Tops Walk-Off Bellarmine for 9-8 Win

Wednesday, April 10

Bowling Green, Ky.

2:00 PM CT

Western Kentucky University

23-11

Bellarmine

5-27

Bellarmine

WKU

Photo by: Evan Brown/WKU Athletics

4/10/2024 6:29:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – For the second day in a row, WKU Baseball celebrated a walk-off win as they beat Bellarmine 9-8 on Wednesday at Nick Denes Field. The Hilltoppers improve to 23-11 (6-3 CUSA) while the Knights fall to 5-27 (4-8 ASUN).

Down 8-7 with no outs and runners on first and second, sophomore Camden Ross entered as a pinch-hitter for WKU. The Broomfield, Co. native laid down a sacrifice bunt down the third base line that caused an errant throw by the Bellarmine defense. As the ball evaded the first baseman, both runners rounded the bases and crossed home for the Tops second walk-off winner in as many days.

At the plate, junior Blake Cavill led the way in a 2-for-3 day with a home run, a double, three RBI and three runs scored. Junior Joey Baran secured a pair of RBI in a 2-for-2 outing with a double while junior Ethan Lizama had two hits, two runs scored, and an RBI.

Freshman Zach Lyles got the starting nod on the mound for the first time in his collegiate career. The southpaw struck out two batters in 2.0 innings of work without allowing an earned run. Freshman Elliott Rossell earned the win in his longest appearance of the season. The right-hander struck out a couple of Knights in 3.0 frames while allowing one run on one hit and one walk.

The Tops struck three times in the first with a two-RBI double from Cavill before Baran drove in another with a two-bagger of his own.

Bellarmine got back within one in the top of the second, scoring two unearned runs on a fielding error by WKU and a groundout, but a single from Lizama in the bottom of the frame doubled the Hilltopper lead.

An RBI double and a passed ball evened the score in the third for the Knights, but a solo home run from Cavill put the Tops back in front.

The Knights tied the score once again in the top of the fifth with an RBI single, but a sacrifice fly from Baran and an error by Bellarmine gave WKU a 7-5 lead in the home half of the inning.

Bellarmine tied the game for a third time in the sixth with a two-run home run before taking the lead in the ninth with an RBI groundout, but a sacrifice bunt from Ross in the ninth inning caused a throwing error and allowed two runners on base to score and win the game, 9-8.

UP NEXT

The Hilltoppers will visit Sam Houston in Huntsville, Texas for another Conference USA series. First pitch on Friday is set for 6:30 p.m. CT.

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 on Instagram.