MTSU sweeps WKU Baseball

Marshall Canupp

Hilltopper Baseball’s Brian McAuliffe (5) knocks one out of the park to score a grand slam during their game against the Belmont Bruins at Nick Denes Field on April 5th.

Camden Bush

WKU Baseball hosted the MTSU Blue Raiders in a three-game series in Bowling Green, Kentucky April 6- 8. The Hilltoppers were defeated in all three games against the Blue Raiders over the weekend. 

The losses mark the Hilltoppers eighth straight loss and second-straight series they have been swept in. 

The Hilltoppers have now dropped 13 of their last 14 and hold their first losing record of the season at 16-17. WKU has fared poorly in conference play up to this point with a 2-10 record. 

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Game 1

The Hilltoppers dropped game one of the three-game series Thurdsday night 6-3 to the Blue Raiders. 

MTSU got out to a quick lead with a solo homer in the top of the first to make it 1-0. 

The following inning, the Blue Raiders added to their lead with two successful sacrifice bunts, giving them a 3-0 advantage. 

Junior Aidan Gilroy responded for the Hilltoppers in the third with a two-run home run to cut the deficit to 3-2.

MTSU expanded its lead in the third with a solo homer and again in the sixth with a two-run homer to make the game 6-2.

The Hilltoppers made it a 6-3 game in the eighth with an RBI single, but failed to manage a comeback as MTSU claimed a victory. 

Gilroy led WKU’s offense in game one with three hits and two RBIs.

 

Game 2

MTSU claimed a series victory Friday with a 2-0 win over the Hilltoppers. 

WKU’s offense struggled mightily in the contest, failing to score and only recording six hits.

MTSU scored the game’s first run in the third inning on an RBI groundout to take a 1-0 lead. 

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The Blue Raiders then added to their lead with an RBI double in the eighth inning to make it 2-0. 

Despite being shut out, the Hilltoppers saw a strong pitching performance on their end from freshman Dawson Hall. Hall got the start for WKU and pitched five innings while only allowing one run. 

 

Game 3

The Blue Raiders claimed a series-sweep over WKU Saturday with a 5-4 victory.

For the third straight game, MTSU jumped out to an early lead and the Hilltoppers failed to come back.

MTSU began the scoring with four runs in the third inning to take a 4-0 lead. The Blue Raiders scored on an RBI double, an RBI bunt single and a two RBI single.

The teams traded individual runs in the fourth on an RBI single by WKU and a passed ball against the Hilltoppers to make it 5-1. 

WKU then cut the deficit to 5-4 with an RBI double in the seventh and an RBI single in the ninth, but the Hilltoppers could not complete the comeback. 

Despite the loss, redshirt junior Ty Crittenberger had a strong showing at the plate, recording two hits, an RBI and a run. 

The Hilltoppers will return to Nick Denes Field April 11 to host the Evansville Aces at 6 p.m. CST. 

 

Sports reporter Camden Bush can be reached at [email protected].