KINGSPORT, Tennessee — WVU Tech baseball plated four runs each in the second and eighth innings to secure an 8-5 victory over No. 5 seed Asbury University in the first round of the KIAC Tournament Wednesday afternoon.

The Golden Bears (39-14) were trailing the Eagles (22-28) 5-4 headed into the bottom of the eighth inning before seniors Doug Prather and Dylan Harvey drove in one and two runs respectively that led to Tech's advancement in the winner's bracket of the tournament.

The second inning gave Tech a 4-1 lead after five hits and four runs while the winning at bat for the team came in the eighth inning off of three hits, four runs and an Eagles error.

Harvey paced the Gold and Blue, finishing with a 3-for-5 effort at the plate with three RBI and a stolen base. Senior Tommy Weaver drove in two runs in the fourth inning, marking a 1-for-3 showing at bat. The other runs batted in were credited to juniors Tanner Levine, Victor Diaz and Prather.

Junior Austin Southcott drew the start on the mound, pitching six innings while scattering seven hits, two earned runs and a strike out.

Senior Brandon Tucker (5-1-1) was awarded the win after two innings of work where he gave up two hits and struck out one Eagle. Junior Chris Davidson (3-3-2) earned his second save of the season after an inning on the mound and was able to retire one opponent via strikes.

WVU Tech will next face the winner of No. 3 Point Park University versus No. 4 University of Rio Grande in a nine-inning game tomorrow, Thursday for a 7 p.m. start to continue their race towards the KIAC Tournament Championship.