WKU baseball secured a 15-4 run-rule victory over Tennessee Tech on Tuesday night in Cookeville, Tennessee, using a strong offensive performance to go 11-1 in the season.
The Hilltoppers tallied 14 hits and drew six walks, with every batter who recorded an at-bat collecting a hit. Four players finished with multi-hit games.
On the mound, WKU’s pitching staff limited the Golden Eagles to seven hits while striking out five. Senior starting pitcher Cole Heath went three innings, allowing two runs on three hits.
WKU got off to a hot start in the first inning, scoring five runs for an early lead. Junior Kyle Hvidsten opened the scoring with an RBI triple, followed by an RBI single from junior Thomas Marsala. Junior Henry Brown then launched a two-run home run, and junior Joe Siervo capped off the inning with an RBI single.
TTU answered back in the first inning with a two-run home run, making the game 5-2.
The Hilltoppers added to their lead in the fourth inning from a sac fly from Hvidsten and an RBI groundout by Marsala. WKU extended their lead in the fifth inning with a two-RBI single by senior Ethan Lizama, giving WKU a 9-2 lead.
The Golden Eagles got a run back in the fifth inning with an RBI single and got another run in the sixth inning from a solo home run, cutting the deficit to 9-4.
The Hilltoppers responded in the eighth inning with a grand slam by freshman Reid Howard and a two-RBI double by senior Carlos Vasquez.
WKU Baseball is scheduled for a four-game series against UNC Asheville March 7-9 at Nick Denes Field.
Sports Reporter David Quintanilla can be reached at [email protected].
