Falling in dramatic fashion, WKU (7-2) dropped a close, 5-4 contest in the first game of a three at Jacksonville State after the Gamecocks produced the winning run in the bottom of the ninth.
Game 2 of the series will start at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday from Rudy Abbott Field, with the Hilltoppers facing left-handed pitcher Jack Pierce (0-0, 7.56) of JSU. The starting pitcher for WKU will be announced closer to game time.
Missed opportunities came back to haunt WKU in the defeat, who saw its six game winning streak come to an end. The Hilltoppers stranded 11 runners on base in the game and also had two late errors, with one leading to the tying run in the bottom of the eighth inning.