Western Kentucky’s Grayson Ivey smacked a pinch-hit double to the center field wall to score Marshall Smith from third base in the bottom of the ninth inning and give the Hilltoppers a 3-2 victory over Belmont on Tuesday at Nick Denes Field.

It was the Hilltoppers’ second walk-off of the season, 18 days after Kaleb Duckworth’s two-run home run on Opening Day.

In his first career start, Wyatt Featherston worked a six-pitch walk and was replaced by Smith as a pinch runner. Smith stole second base on the first pitch to Tyler Robertson. Also making his first start as a Hilltopper, Robertson then put down a sacrifice bunt to move Smith to third base. After fouling off three pitches and taking a ball, Ivey drove the fifth pitch of the at-bat over the Bruins’ center fielder’s head for the game-winning RBI.

The swing capped another solid pitching performance from WKU (5-8), led by Evan Acosta. The lefty bounced back from his first career start at Kentucky six days prior to spin seven innings of two-run ball. Acosta threw only 99 pitches and struck out five, allowing only four hits and one walk. Logan Weins (0.2) and Conner Boyd (1.1) finished the final two frames for the Hilltoppers, with Boyd picking up his first career win.

Thomas Peter had a pair of doubles and reached base in his two other plate appearances – via walk and hit by pitch – in the contest, scoring WKU’s first run in the fourth inning when Hunter Wood followed the right fielder’s double with a double of his own.

Featherston and Robertson combined for the team’s second run of the contest, beginning the fifth inning with a double and single to tie the game, 2-2, where it would stay until Ivey came up to bat just over 60 minutes later.

WKU returns to action Wednesday against host Eastern Kentucky at Earle Combs Stadium in Richmond. Game time is 3 p.m. CST. WKU goes up against Eastern Kentucky in the first of a home-and-home series on the season, which will see the Colonels visit Nick Denes Field on May 2. Starting pitchers are TBA.

Blackman paces Lady Tops at UNF Collegiate golf tournament

The Western Kentucky women’s golf team wrapped up its second event of the spring season Tuesday in a deep field at the UNF Collegiate, hosted by North Florida in Jacksonville, Fla.

The Lady Toppers shot 941 (317-310-314) to finish 14th at the par-72, 6,002-yard Jacksonville Golf and Country Club.

Junior Georgina Blackman led the Lady Toppers over the two-day tournament with her sixth top-25 finish in seven outings this season, shooting 78 on Tuesday and 226 over the three rounds. Blackman fired two birdies in her last 10 holes of play, tying her for 21st in the field.

Mary Joiner carded an even 72 in her final 18 holes, her best round of the tournament. The freshman finished Tuesday with five birdies, four of them in her last six holes. Her strong late play allowed her to tie for 36th with a score of 230.

Junior Katie Story shot 81 in her final round, while senior Daniela Galassi marked her best round of the tournament with an 83. Junior Emily Alexander withdrew Tuesday because of illness.

Southern Miss won the tournament on a tiebreaker with an 895.

The Lady Toppers next co-host the WKU-USM Spring Break Shootout with Southern Miss beginning March 13. The tournament will be played at Lake Jovita Golf Club in Dade City, Fla.