Post Game: Tops 8 – UNC Asheville 5

Photo Courtesy of NCAA.org

What a game to kick off a weekend series with UNC Asheville.

The Hilltoppers kept things very interesting. They allowed four runs in the second inning. What seemed like an eternity finally ended. The Western offense gave the crowd little to cheer about, as many left before the eighth inning began. However i feel very bad for those fans as the Tops had a five run two out eighth inning.

Ryan Messex, Cody Wofford, Scott Wilcox, and Regan Flaherty all had the RBI’s in the eighth inning, for WKU. For UNCA, it was Sam Turner, Kyle Towles, and Tommy Houmard had the RBI’s in the 2nd inning to strengthen their lead. It took a one run inning to fire up the momentum for WKU. After that the Tops managed to muster up the 8th inning comeback and thats all she wrote from there.

Hilltopper senior Justin Hageman got the start, and went four full innings, allowing five runs on six hits, one error and three strike outs. In his relief came freshman Sam Higgs. Higgs duplicated Hageman’s four full innings of work, in which he allowed two hits, ZERO runs and four strike outs. In the final inning, the Tops brought in Ian Thompkins on for the save. He allowed two hits, but pulled in the strike out for out 27.

While the Tops didn’t get things going until the latter innings, they still roughed up Ashville’s pitching all around quite a bit. Starter Corey Randall went five innings, allowing three runs (only one of them earned, however) on seven hits. Next in came Joe Zayatz, who the Toppers hit…hard. In his 2.1 innings of work, he allowed four runs on two hits (but, once again, only one was earned) but it was enough to have the Tops come back and take this one, the final score 8-5.

For what it’s worth, only twice did a Hilltopper strike out.

The Tops and Bulldogs meet again at the Nick tomorrow at 2pm for game two of the three game series. Follow WaveTheRedTowel on twitter for live tweeting, and check back here for your post game report. Also look on WTRT for Mens and Womens Basketball coverage against ULM. Have a safe and pleasant evening and as always, GO TOPS!