The WKU baseball team traveled to Mobile, Ala., this past weekend tied for first place in a pivotal Sun Belt Conference series against South Alabama.

After taking game one, the Toppers lost the last two, losing the series 1-2 and falling out of first place. USA (29-12, 12-6 SBC) now stands alone at the top of the Sun Belt standings.

WKU (21-19, 11-7 SBC) sent junior ace Tanner Perkins to the mound Friday and he was able to work six innings and only allow two runs. WKU was able to score five in the sixth and withstand a rally from the Jaguars late to win the game 10-8.

Advertisement

The sixth inning proved to be just as important in Saturday’s game as well — however, this time it worked in favor of South Alabama.

The Jaguars plated four runs in the sixth inning to take the lead 5-1. USA would add another run later and hold off a WKU rally to win the game 6-3.

In the seventh and eighth innings combined, WKU put six runners on base in scoring position, but could only get two of those runs across the plate.

The two teams went into Sunday’s game tied for first place in the conference at 11-6. In a close game, the Jaguars came out victorious 7-5 to take the series and the top spot.

South Alabama scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh to break a 5-5 tie that would eventually win the game.

Senior infielder Steve Hodgins had a good weekend at the plate for the Toppers. Hodgins went 6-of-13 on the weekend with five RBI’s as he recorded two hits in each game.

WKU will be back in action this Tuesday against the Kentucky at 6 p.m. at Bowling Green Ballpark.

The Toppers defeated the Wildcats in March 6-3. At the time, UK was ranked No. 8 in the NCAA.