Western Kentucky pounded out 17 hits – including five home runs – and beat Belmont 15-7 on Tuesday in Nashville.

WKU’s Tyler Robertson blasted two home runs and had five RBIs. Ray Zuberer III had four hits out of the leadoff spot.

With a strong wind to right-center field early in the game, the Hilltoppers jumped to a 9-0 lead by the top of the third inning. After Kevin Lambert hit a two-run home run in the second, Robertson connected on a grand slam in the third and Jacob Rhinesmith launched a three-run shot later in the inning.

Starter Evan Acosta retired six of seven Bruins to begin the game, but the Bruins scored four off the lefty in the third. Another Belmont run in the fourth squeezed it to a 9-5 WKU advantage, but it would get no closer.

WKU freshman Maddex Richardson earned the victory with a career-high four strikeouts in 2 1/3 scoreless innings, keeping the Bruins at bay from the fourth to sixth innings.

In the fifth, Robertson lifted a solo home run to left field to lead off, and Zuberer followed later in the frame with a two-run home run to right.

In the seventh, WKU’s Steven Kraft doubled in Zuberer and Rhinesmith. Colie Currie followed with an RBI single to right to bring the score to 15-5.

Belmont pushed across two runs in the bottom of the eighth, but reliever Conner Boyd then retired all six batters he faced to clinch the win and end the Hilltoppers’ five-game losing streak.

Colin Butkiewicz went 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles. Luke Brown went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and walked twice.

WKU hosts Bowling Green for a three-game series March 9-11 at Nick Denes Field. First pitch Friday will be at 3 p.m.