Western Kentucky pitcher Bailey Sutton struck out back-to-back Louisiana Tech batters with the bases loaded Friday, sealing the Hilltoppers’ 5-4 win in Ruston, La.

A benches-clearing scuffle then broke out after Sutton whiffed the Bulldogs’ Steele Netterville for the game’s final out. Video showed the teams and coaching staffs had to be separated from one another.

WKU’s win was its fifth straight in Conference USA play. The third-place Toppers (24-22-1 overall, 15-9-1 C-USA) added to their lead in the standings over fourth-place La Tech (30-20, 13-12) with the 5-4 victory.

Friday’s game was played at a high school in Ruston. An April tornado heavily damaged the Bulldogs’ home field. The teams chose nearby Louisiana-Monroe as a new location for their three-game series, but field conditions prevented the teams from playing there.

WKU trailed 2-0 in the top of the third inning Friday when catcher Collin Hopkins singled home center fielder Jackson Swiney, trimming the deficit to 2-1.

The Bulldogs struck for another run in the bottom of the third inning to go up 3-1, but then the Hilltoppers scored the game’s next four runs.

WKU scored one fourth-inning run apiece on a Ray Zuberer III RBI single and a Jake Sanford RBI groundout to tie the game at 3.

Then, in the fifth inning, the Tops added two more runs. Shortstop Kevin Lambert scored on Hopkins’ RBI groundout, and third baseman Nick Brunson crossed the plate later in the inning on a passed ball.

The 5-3 lead held until the bottom of the ninth inning. Louisiana Tech’s Hunter Wells singled to center, scoring Seth White to make it a 5-4 game.

With the bases loaded, Sutton struck out Tanner Huddleston and Netterville to clinch WKU’s road win.

Hilltopper starter Reece Calvert pitched eight innings Friday, allowing three runs, eight hits and two walks. He struck out seven.

The teams will meet again Saturday, although a game time hasn’t been set with inclement weather in the forecast.