WKU Baseball had a strong weekend at Nick Denes Field Feb. 23-25, winning three out of four contests over Purdue Fort Wayne.
The Hilltoppers dropped the first game of the weekend in a close contest before sweeping a Saturday Doubleheader and defeating the Mastodons Sunday.
WKU’s offense was on full display over the series as the Hilltoppers scored 37 runs over the four games.
Game 1
The Hilltoppers only loss of the weekend came on Friday in a thrilling 14-13 game.
WKU got out to a huge early lead, scoring five runs in the first inning on a sac fly, two RBI singles and a two RBI triple.
The Mastodons responded by scoring nine unanswered to take a 9-5 lead. PFW scored three in the second inning, four in the fifth and two in the sixth.
WKU bounced back in the bottom of the sixth with a game tying grand slam by junior Blake Cavill, making it 9-9.
The teams continued to trade blows in the seventh and eighth innings as each team scored two in both innings to make it 13-13.
PFW claimed a 14-13 victory with a game-winning RBI single in the ninth.
The Hilltoppers tallied 19 hits in the contest. Cavill had an outstanding day at the plate, recording three hits and six RBIs.
Game 2
WKU dominated game two of the series, winning a seven-inning, 10-1 contest on Saturday.
PFW took a 1-0 lead in the first before WKU scored ten unanswered runs.
The Hilltoppers had two-run home runs in both the third and sixth innings.
The two-run home run in the sixth began an eight run inning for WKU that also featured three RBI singles, a sac fly and a two RBI double.
Cavill had another huge game at the plate, going two for three with two RBIs and three runs scored.
Senior Jacob Bimbi picked up his second win of the season on the mound, pitching five innings and allowing one run.
Game 3
WKU finished Saturday with a 9-5 win in the second game of the doubleheader.
The Mastodons got out to a hot start in the contest, taking a 3-1 lead through the first four innings.
The Hilltoppers answered with a two RBI double in the fifth to tie it, followed by a huge sixth inning.
WKU scored six runs in the sixth on a Grand Slam by junior Joey Baran, an RBI single and a sac bunt.
Freshman Drew Whalen picked up the win for the Hilltoppers in relief, going four and two third innings and allowing only one run.
Game 4
WKU blanked PFW 5-0 in the final contest of the weekend Sunday.
The game was scoreless until the sixth inning when the Hilltoppers took a 1-0 lead on an RBI single.
WKU added to its lead with a sac fly, a two-RBI single and a bases-loaded HBP in the seventh, en route to a 5-0 victory.
Cavill had another big game for WKU, reaching base four times with two hits and two walks.
Sophomore Dawson Hall put together an outstanding start on the mound, going seven innings without allowing a run.
The Hilltoppers will return to the field Tuesday, Feb. 27 to take on the University of Kentucky in Lexington at 4 p.m. CT.
