Western Kentucky (28-24, 16-14)took the series 2-1 as it locked up the No. 5 seed in the Sun Belt Conference tournament. The Blue Raiders fell to 27-27-1 on the season and 13-16 in league play to take the No. 8 seed.

Sophomore Chad Edwards (4-2) took the loss as he allowed four runs on six hits in three and one-third innings of work.

Junior Brett Smalley, senior Langdon Stanley and freshman Michael Adamson pitched four and two-thirds innings of combined relief allowing three runs on four hits.

At the plate, junior Rawley Bishop led the Blue Raiders going 3 for 4 with a double and one run scored. Senior Zach Barrett added assistance as he went 2 for 4 scoring a run.

The Hilltoppers put the first run on the board with back-to-back doubles to right field in the bottom of the third. Western Kentucky added an insurance run on a single to left field by Terrence Dayleg allowing Matt Hightower to score from second.

Brentz hit a sacrifice fly to left field with no one out and runners at second and third to cut the lead to one as Barrett came in from third. Then Jones tied the game with his single to centerfield brining in Bishop from second.

Matt Hightower broke the tie in favor of Western Kentucky with his sacrifice fly to centerfield. Then Smalley has a wild pitch with the bases loaded allowing the runners to advance and give the Hilltoppers a 4-2 lead.

Western Kentucky took its lead to four after a couple of bad plays by the Blue Raider infield. The inning began with two errors to put runners at first and second with no outs. Then the runners were sac bunted over to second and third, an intentional base on balls loaded the bases for Scott Kaskie. Kaskie singled to Dennis scoring the runner from third and then a sacrifice fly to right field brought in another run putting the Hilltoppers up 6-2. Western Kentucky took a 7-2 lead scoring three unearned runs on two hits in the bottom of the seventh.

Middle Tennessee will be back in action on Wednesday, May 21 in the opening round of the 2008 Sun Belt Conference Tournament when it faces top-seeded Louisiana-Monroe. More information on the SBC Tournament will be on www.goblueraiders.com as soon as it becomes available.

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