Western Kentucky lost twice Sunday in the Hilltoppers’ first doubleheader of the season, falling 12-4 in the opener and 4-3 in the nightcap to Illinois State at WKU’s Nick Denes Field.

Top performances by the Hilltoppers (6-11) included a 5-for-9 day from second baseman Tyler Robertson with two stolen bases, along with a 5.2-inning pitching effort from righty Paul Kirkpatrick in Game 1 when he struck out a career-high seven hitters.

In the opener, Kirkpatrick started off strong with four strikeouts through his first three scoreless innings. The Hilltoppers got out to a 2-0 lead on a pair of Redbirds’ errors and an RBI single from Steven DiPuglia that scored Kevin Lambert in the second.

ISU scored four runs – but only one earned – off Kirkpatrick by the fifth inning, and Kaleb Duckworth had a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth to knot the score, 4-4. But the Redbirds scored eight in the final two frames to claim the 12-4 victory.

In game 2, freshman Michael Hicks made his second straight Sunday start and allowed three runs in the second inning as ISU took a 3-0 lead. Back-to-back doubles from Leiff Clarkson and Steven Kraft got the Hilltoppers within 3-1, and Hicks threw two solid innings to cap his outing at four innings and four runs – three earned.

Devon Loomis and Jackson Sowell combined to blank the Redbirds the rest of the way, pitching five innings of five-hit ball with five strikeouts, as WKU mounted a comeback bit-by-bit. Colie Currie led off the bottom of the fourth with a single and ended up on third base after a fielding error by ISU left fielder Jordan Libman. Clarkson brought him in on a sacrifice fly to make the score 4-2, where it would stay until the final frame.

With one out, pinch hitter Chris Rogers walked on a full count and was replaced on the bases by Marshall Smith. The left fielder Kraft followed with an infield single, then Tyler Robertson brought in Smith with a single and represented the game-winning run on first base in the, now, 4-3 game. But back-to-back ground outs by Hunter Wood and Thomas Peter ended the contest and gave Illinois State (4-8) a series win.

The Hilltoppers travel to Nashville on Tuesday to face No. 25 Vanderbilt for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch at Hawkins Field. The Commodores hold an 11-6 record and also played a Sunday doubleheader, splitting the pair against visiting Saint Mary’s.