WKU Baseball wins series against Charlotte
WKU Hilltoppers celebrate a run by redshirt junior outfielder Ty Crittenberger (3) during the first round of a double-header against the NIU Huskies Saturday, March. 4, 2023 at Nick Denes Field. WKU won the first match 9-8.
April 30, 2023
WKU Baseball (25-20, C-USA 10-11) swept the Charlotte 49ers (22-21, C-USA 12-8) in a tournament April 28-30 at Nick Denes Field.
GAME 1
WKU started the series with an 8-4 victory over the 49ers.
Junior Andrew Delaney and grad student Kirk Liebert combined for three RBI’s in the bottom of the second, giving the Hilltoppers an early 3-0 lead.
A couple of solo bombs from Charlotte made it 3-2 in the top of the fifth.
WKU responded in the bottom of the fifth as a couple of RBI knocks brought the Hilltoppers lead back to three, 5-2.
WKU collected three more in the bottom of the sixth, 8-2.
Charlotte brought two across in the final two innings, but it was too little too late as WKU took game one 8-4.
GAME 2
WKU clinched their third straight series victory in game two, defeating the 49ers 5-3.
An RBI single from Junior Aidan Gilroy and a double steal put the Hilltoppers up 2-0 in the bottom of the third.
Charlotte tied the game in the top of the fourth with a two run homer, 2-2.
Charlotte took a 3-2 lead in the fifth following an RBI single.
WKU answered in the bottom of the fifth scoring three making it 5-3 in favor of the Hilltoppers.
Both offenses failed to score in the final four innings as WKU took game two 5-3.
GAME 3
WKU completed the sweep in game three with a 14-10 win.
WKU jumped to an early lead, scoring two in the bottom of the first, 2-0.
Charlotte brought their deficit down to one with a solo shot in the top of the second, 2-1.
A two out RBI double from senior Tristin Garcia put the Hilltoppers up 3-1 in the bottom of the third.
Charlotte scored four through the fifth and sixth innings, taking a 5-3 lead. WKU jumped back into the lead, scoring seven in the seventh making it 10-5 Hilltoppers.
Charlotte cut their deficit down to three with two solo homers in the eighth, 10-7. WKU widened their lead in the bottom of the eighth scoring four, making it 14-7.
Charlotte brought three across in the ninth but it wasn’t enough as WKU defeated the 49ers 14-10.
Sports reporter Jake McMahon can be reached at [email protected].
