WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – The West Liberty University baseball team rallied from a four-run deficit to earn a dramatic 5-4 walk-off victory over Indiana (Pa.) Tuesday afternoon at Kovalick Field.
Trailing 4-0 after four innings, the Hilltoppers (14-28) chipped away before tying the game late and ultimately winning it in the bottom of the ninth.
IUP (27-19) struck first with a run in the third before taking advantage of a big fourth inning to build a 4-0 lead.
West Liberty answered in the bottom half of the fourth when Giacomo Dolce drove in a run with a single to center, cutting the deficit to 4-1. The Hilltoppers continued to close the gap in the fifth as Evan Tice brought home Luke Foley with an RBI groundout.
Austin Wittreich provided a spark in the sixth, launching a solo home run to make it a one-run game at 4-3.
The Hilltopper bullpen took over from there and shut down the Crimson Hawks offense. Garrett Comer and Andrew Benchich combined for four scoreless innings before Colby Conn worked a clean ninth to keep the game within reach.
West Liberty pulled even in the eighth inning when Braxton Billick scored on a wild pitch, setting the stage for late-game heroics.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Hilltoppers capitalized once again, as Foley came around to score on a wild pitch to complete the comeback and secure the walk-off victory.
Foley led the offense with a 2-for-5 day and two runs scored, while Wittreich added two hits including his home run. Dolce and Tice each drove in a run as part of a balanced offensive effort.
Conn (2-6) earned the win in relief, while IUP's Christian Wilkinson was charged with the loss.
West Liberty will close out the regular season this weekend with a four-game series against Wheeling. The teams will play a doubleheader Friday at EQT Park in Washington, Pa., before returning to Kovalick Field for a doubleheader on Sunday.
West Liberty University blends a small-town environment with a comprehensive college experience, fostering students' aspirations through hands-on learning, personalized support, and unique academic programs at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Learn more at westliberty.edu.
