WKU Baseball wins series against Charlotte

Arthur H. Trickett-Wile

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.

Jake McMahon

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.

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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. 

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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].