BOWLING GREEN, Ky. ? Down 16-6 after six innings, it looked like the University of South Alabama would get to hit the road early after a rough weekend at Western Kentucky.

But, the Jags (7-10, 0-3 SBC) battled back and scored four runs in the seventh and eighth innings to cut the Western Kentucky (12-4, 6-0 SBC) lead to 16-14 before the rally stalled in the ninth, and the Hilltoppers defeated USA 16-14 Sunday at Denes Field.

Western Kentucky got the scoring started with a pair of unearned runs in the first inning, but the Jags answered with three of their own in the second on a two-run double from Jake Overstreet and a RBI single from Derek O'Reilly.

O’Reilly went 2-for-5 and drove in runs in three separate at-bats, but Hilltoppers Matt Payton and Matt Hightower each went 5-for-6 to lead WKU to 23 hits on the day.

The Toppers responded with two more runs to take a 4-3 lead on a two-run double from Matt Payton, but USA again answered to regain the lead on David Doss’ fifth home run of the season, a two-run blast in the top of the third.

WKU plated three more runs to take a 7-5 lead after three, and the Hilltoppers kept the lead the rest of the way. USA got a run back in the fifth when Zach Grichor came home on Doss’ sacrifice fly, but pinch hitter Matt Drake struck out with the bases loaded to end the scoring threat.

Two innings later, Drake came up again with the bases loaded, and this time the freshman delivered with a three-run double ? the first extra-base hit of his collegiate career. He came around to score on O’Reilly’s groundout, and Jag reliever Phillip Byrd held the Toppers scoreless for the first time in the game in the seventh inning.

USA got another rally going an inning later, when Ryan Bohanan drove in a run on a single and Sean Laird followed with a RBI double. Overstreet and O’Reilly followed with RBI singles, but Adam Heisler was retired with the bases loaded and the Jags trailing 16-14.

Heisler finished the game 3-for-6 with three runs, while Doss went 3-for-5 with three runs and three RBI and Overstreet went 3-for-5 with a run and three RBI.

Greg Johnson came on in relief and worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam with a popout and a strikeout to get the Jags to the ninth trailing by just two runs.

WKU reliever Bryce Jenney recorded his third save of the season by retiring the side in order to complete the sweep for the Hilltoppers.

Notes:  David Doss extended his hitting streak to 11 games, and Zach Grichor extended his streak to nine straight ... The 23 hits allowed by USA pitching were the most since the Jags allowed the same number to Florida International on April 8, 2006 ... Matt Drake, Jake Overstreet, Derek O'Reilly and David Doss each recorded three RBI ... It was the first time since April 23, 2006 that four Jags recorded three or more RBI in a game.

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