With the victory, WKU improved to 24-22-1 overall and 15-9-1 in Conference USA play. With another win — or a loss by UTSA — the Hilltoppers would officially secure a spot in the league's postseason tournament.
Calvert's eight innings were a career-high, as were his seven strikeouts and 120 pitches — which included 83 strikes. He became the first WKU pitcher to complete eight frames since lefty Ryan Thurston on April 27, 2018, also in a win against LA Tech.
But it did not get started out well for the Plano, Texas, native, as the Bulldogs plated three runs in the first three innings. Mason Mallard — who went 3-for-4 in the game — scored two runs and drove in one, as LA Tech carried a 3-1 lead into the top of the fourth. Hopkins put WKU on the board with an RBI single that scored freshman center fielder Jackson Swiney in the top of the second.
The Hilltoppers tied the game at 3-3 in the fourth frame, as second baseman Ray Zuberer III singled home third baseman Nick Brunson and right fielder Jake Sanford produced an RBI ground out with the bases loaded. It was the 63rd run batted in of the year for the Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, native.
WKU added another two runs in the fifth, which started with a pair of walks to shortstop Kevin Lambert and Brunson, then left fielder Aidan Elias followed with a sacrifice bunt to move both runners in scoring position. Hopkins grounded home Lambert, then Brunson scored on a wild pitch with designated hitter Jack Wilson at bat to give the visitors a 5-3 lead.
Starting with the bottom of the fourth, Calvert held the Bulldogs scoreless over his final five frames while allowing one baserunner per inning. Sutton took over to begin the ninth and struck out the first batter before hitting pinch hitter Phillip Matulia with a back-foot curve ball on a 2-2 pitch.
The next two LA Tech hitters produced singles to score one run and put runners in scoring position after an errant throw from the outfield with only one out. WKU decided to intentionally walk the hot-hitting Mallard to load the bases and put Sutton under the pressure cooker, protecting a 5-4 lead.
The sophomore from Louisville came through, striking out Tanner Huddleston and Steele Netterville swinging to end the game and secure his third save of the past three weekends. Netterville struck out a team-high three times on the night.
Topper Notes
- WKU improved to 8-11 in road games, 8-8 in night games, 8-6 on Friday's, 9-6 in black jerseys, 8-3 in one-run games, 20-12-1 on turf (at least infield), 9-0 when the starting pitcher goes five-plus innings and 19-12-1 when allowing one or zero homeruns.
- The Hilltoppers recorded their 12th come-from-behind win of the season, including the sixth in Conference USA play. In all 12 comeback wins, WKU has trailed by at least two runs at the height of the deficit.
- Hopkins produced his second multi-hit and second multi-RBI performance of the season, while Zuberer put forth his ninth multi-hit effort, including his fourth over the past 10 games.
- Lambert went 1-2 with a career-high three walks, while Brunson went 1-for-3 with a pair of walks himself. In total, the Hilltoppers drew seven free passes, their second-most in the past 23 games.
- Sanford was hit by a pitch in the top of the first inning to push his team-best on-base streak to 32 consecutive games. It was the second straight game in which the junior was hit by a pitch after being hit only two times in the first 45 contests.
