WKU Baseball hosted Rice for a three-game series in Bowling Green, Kentucky May 12-14. The Hilltoppers claimed a sweep, winning all three over the Owls.

The series victory marks WKU’s fifth straight series victory. The Hilltoppers now sit at 30-22 on the season with a 15-12 record in conference play. 

Game 1

The Hilltoppers claimed the first game of the series Friday 5-4 over the Owls in a ten-inning contest. 

WKU began the scoring out of the gate Friday with an RBI single in the first to take a 1-0 lead.

The Hilltoppers added to their lead the following inning with an RBI single, an error and an RBI triple to make it a 4-0 game. 

Rice proceeded to erase the WKU lead with two runs in the fifth and sixth innings on three RBI doubles and a solo homer. 

Senior Ricardo Leonett ultimately gave the Hilltoppers the win with a go-ahead RBI double in the tenth inning, giving WKU a 5-4 lead. 

Leonett led the WKU offense with three hits, including the game winner. 

Game 2

WKU gained another series victory with a 10-2 win over Rice on Saturday

Rice began the scoring with a first inning RBI single to make the game  1-0. 

The Hilltoppers tied the game in the second with a sac fly, making it a 1-1 game. 

WKU then took a 3-1 lead in the fifth with an RBI single and an RBI groundout.

Rice then cut their deficit to 3-2 in the sixth with a sac fly RBI.

The Hilltoppers offense proceeded to explode in the seventh for seven runs, ultimately giving WKU a 10-2 victory. The runs came on a bases loaded walk, two RBI singles, a three-RBI double and an RBI triple.

Junior Aidan Gilroy led the WKU offense with three hits and two runs.

Game 3

The Hilltoppers claimed the series sweep over the Owls Sunday with a 5-2 victory. 

The Owls jumped out to an early lead with an RBI single in the second inning, taking a 1-0 lead. 

WKU responded with an RBI groundout and a sac fly in the bottom of the inning to take a 2-1 lead.

The Hilltoppers expanded their lead with an RBI single in the fifth and a solo homer in the sixth to make it 4-1.

The teams then traded individual runs in the seventh and WKU proceeded to close out a 5-2 victory. 

Gilroy, once again, led the WKU offense, reaching base four times in the contest.

The Hilltoppers will return to the field for a three-game series against Dallas-Baptist May 18-20. The series will be held in Dallas, Texas and will conclude WKU’s regular season play.

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