RICHMOND, Ky. - Western Kentucky pounded out 14 hits and used a five-run first on its way to a 14-4 victory over the Eastern Kentucky baseball team Tuesday at Turkey Hughes Field. The Hilltoppers improve to 22-24 overall while Eastern falls to 25-23.

Matt Ransdell grounded out to second to begin the game but the Hilltoppers then strung together four straight hits to take a 3-0 lead. After Jack Ambrose was called out on batter's interference, Dennis Winn doubled to put runners on second and third. Eric Scriven then singled to right field to give Western a 5-0 lead.

WKU pushed the lead to 7-0 in the second on an RBI groundout from Corteze Armstrong and a sacrifice fly from Jordan Newton.

Eastern cut the lead to 7-2 with a run in the second, on a home run from senior Chris O'Dell, and third, when junior Shawn Flora came home on a wild pitch.

After Western added on a run in the fourth, Eastern cut the lead to 8-3 after junior Tyler Nix led off the inning with a double and then came home to score on a Hilltopper error.

But Western scored a run in the fifth, two sixth and then three in the seventh, highlighted by a two-run triple by Jordan Newton, to put the game away.

Garrett Stembridge pitched two scoreless innings in relief of starter Evan Teague to pick up the victory.

EKU, who clinched a spot in the 2006 O'Reilly OVC Tournament last weekend, closes the regular season this weekend with a three-game series against Austin Peay. The teams will play a doubleheader on Friday and a single game on Saturday. First pitch for both days is set for 1 p.m.