Western Kentucky’s baseball team dropped the opener of a three-game series against Conference USA rival Rice on Friday, falling 8-4 at Nick Denes Field.

WKU’s Kevin Lambert had a pair of hits and reached base three times, while Hunter Wood extended his hit streak to eight games. Originally slated to be a doubleheader, the scheduled second game of the day was postponed due to rain.

The Hilltoppers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Wyatt Featherston hit a sacrifice fly RBI to the warning track in center field. Rice came back with four runs in the next frame, however, sending 10 men to the plate against starter Tops Ryan Thurston.

The lefty struck out six in 4.2 innings – his longest outing and most strikeouts in the month of April – but also walked six and allowed five hits. Conner Boyd relieved Thurston and struck out the only batter he faced to end the fifth and strand two baserunners.

With Rice taking a 7-1 going into WKU half of the seventh, the Hilltoppers rallied for three runs. Colie Currie singled in Lambert with one out, then the Owls made a pitching change after Wood walked to load the bases. Thomas Peter grounded a single through the middle on the second pitch he saw from Jackson Parthasarthy, bringing home Bryson Smith and Currie to cut the deficit to three.

But that is the closest WKU would get, as Rice added a solo home run in the next inning to push the contest to its final score of 8-4.

There are two games still to be played between the Hilltoppers and Owls, but possible inclement weather looms over the next two days. Coaches and umpires planned to meet Saturday at 8 a.m. to determine the schedule for the rest of the weekend.