BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Western Kentucky plated three runs in the fourth inning to take a 7-5 lead and the Hilltoppers never looked back en route to a 9-5 victory over UTSA in the series finale on Saturday at Nick Denes Field.
The Roadrunners (14-11, 5-3 C-USA), who still clinched the series with wins in the first two games, scored all five runs in the first four innings.
UTSA plated two in the opening frame, but an error in the bottom-half led to four runs for the Hilltoppers (14-14, 4-5 C-USA).
Bryan Arias posted an RBI single in the second, while Trent Bowles hit a solo home run in the third to allow the Birds to pull even. The Roadrunners took a 6-5 lead in the top of the fourth on Garrett Moon's RBI groundout, driving in Dylan Rock, who tripled.
However, the lead was short-lived.
WKU received a two-run homer from Kevin Lambert and an RBI double off the bat of Tyler Robertson to take a 7-5 advantage.
The Hilltoppers added two runs in the fifth on Steven Kraft's single.
Chance Kirby (2-3) was saddled with the loss after the right-hander gave up seven runs (five earned) on six hits and three walks in 3.2 panels. Kirby also struck out three.
Meanwhile, Ben Morrison (1-2) received the win after hurling three scoreless stanzas out of the bullpen with a pair of strikeouts.
Bowles was one of four Roadrunners to register two hits in the finale. The senior outfielder had an RBI double and a homer. Bowles hit .615 (8 for 13) with five doubles, two round-trippers, three RBIs and scored seven times in the series. He also slugged 1.462 and reached base at a .615 clip.
UTSA will wrap up its road trip on Tuesday, April 3 at Texas State. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Bobcat Ballpark in San Marcos.
