Box score

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.. – Matt Rice delivered a walk-off single to right field in the bottom of the 10th inning to push Western Kentucky past University of South Alabama baseball 3-2 Sunday afternoon at Nick Denes Field.

With one out in the 10th, Jared Andreoli walked and later moved to third on a single by Ivan Hartle. Rice then hit Collin Blankenship’s 0-1 pitch down  the right field line to drive in Andreoli for the game-winning run.

Blakenship (2-4) suffered the loss in 1/3 of an inning, allowing one run one two hits with a strikeout and one walk. Jaguar starter Carlton Paris pitched nine innings, and allowed just two runs on six hits while striking out five and issuing three walks.

WKU right-hander Brian Edelen (6-1) tossed six innings and yielded just one run on four hits with eight strikeouts and one walk to earn the win. Edelen retired 10 of the last 11 batters he faced in the game.

Paris faced the minimum through the first four innings while striking out four. Then WKU center fielder Kes Carter led off the bottom of the fifth with a solo home run to left field to tie the game 1-1.

South Alabama took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third when Taylor White scored on a wild pitch from Hilltopper starting pitcher Phil Wetherell.

USA regained the lead in the top of the sixth when Hook delivered a two-out solo blast over the right field wall to give the Jags a 2-1 lead, just after Nolan Earley was picked off at first base for the second out of the inning.

Western Kentucky threatened and later scored in the bottom of the seventh after Rice led off the inning with a double and Carter drew a walk. With two outs, Ryan Huck drew a walk to load the bases before Chris Bullard reached on an infield single to score Ryan Hutchison and tie the game 2-2.

Rice went 2-for-4  with a double and one RBI to lead the Hilltoppers at the plate. Carter added a homer, one RBI and a run scored.

Brad Hook went 2-for-3 with a home run, one RBI and a run scored to lead South Alabama at the plate. Jeff DeBlieux,  Jake Overstreet and Nolan Earley added two hits apiece.

South Alabama (27-24, 14-13 SBC) will return to action Tue., May 17, when it hosts Auburn in a 6 p.m. contest at Stanky Field.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com.  Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).



NOTES:  Paris recorded his fifth quality start of the season, and his third in as many starts … Hook homered for the sixth time this season, and extended his hitting streak to seven games … Earley recorded his 19th multiple-hit game of the season … The Jaguars fell to 2-4 in extra inning games this season.