BECKLEY, W.Va. — WVU Tech baseball delivered a dramatic ninth inning comeback in game one before settling for a doubleheader split with Kentucky Christian Friday at Linda K. Epling Stadium. The Golden Bears rallied for an 8-7 walk-off victory in the opener before falling 7-6 in the second game of the River States Conference twinbill.

WVU Tech moves to 5-12 overall and 1-4 in River States Conference play.

Game 1 – WVU Tech 8, Kentucky Christian 7

The Golden Bears erased a three-run deficit in the ninth inning to complete a thrilling walk-off win.

Kentucky Christian jumped out early with two runs in the first inning, but WVU Tech answered immediately. Maddex Sims tripled to open the bottom half and later scored, while Nolan Copeland added an RBI single to tie the game at 2-2.

The Golden Bears took a 3-2 lead in the third when Jake Tompkins delivered an RBI single, and Tech regained the lead again in the sixth after Tompkins tripled and Copeland drove him in with a sacrifice fly.

Kentucky Christian appeared to seize control in the eighth inning when Eric Odell launched a grand slam to put the Knights ahead 7-4.

WVU Tech saved its best rally for the final frame.

After Ethan Dylan Turner doubled and Zachary Hunt reached on a walk, the Golden Bears began chipping away. Sims delivered an RBI double to score Turner before Gabe Templeton lined a two-run single to left. A fielding error allowed the tying run to score as Templeton's hit completed the comeback and secured the walk-off victory.

Sims finished 2-for-5 with two runs and a triple, while Templeton went 2-for-5 with two RBIs.

On the mound, Cameron Lynch struck out eight over seven innings. Andrew Lynch closed the door in the ninth to earn the win.

Game 2 – Kentucky Christian 7, WVU Tech 6

The nightcap was another back-and-forth contest as the Knights held off a late Golden Bear rally.

Kentucky Christian took a 1-0 lead in the first inning before WVU Tech tied the game in the second when Tyler Mackey tripled and later scored on an error.

The Golden Bears surged ahead in the third when Jake Tompkins crushed a three-run home run to right field, giving WVU Tech a 4-2 advantage.

Kentucky Christian responded with two runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth to regain the lead.

WVU Tech kept battling. Mackey tripled again and later scored in the sixth, and in the seventh Nolan Copeland doubled to drive in Gabe Templeton and pull Tech within one run.

The Golden Bears brought the tying run to third base in the final inning but Kentucky Christian escaped to secure the 7-6 win.

Templeton finished 2-for-4 with two runs, while Copeland went 2-for-4 with an RBI and Mackey collected two hits and two triples.

Golden Bear Highlights

Game 1

• Maddex Sims: 2 hits, triple, 2 runs
• Gabe Templeton: 2 hits, 2 RBI, walk-off hit
• Nolan Copeland: 2 hits, 2 RBI
• Jake Tompkins: 2 hits, triple, 2 RBI
• Cameron Lynch: 7 IP, 8 strikeouts

Game 2

• Jake Tompkins: 3-run home run
• Tyler Mackey: 2 hits, two triples, 2 runs
• Gabe Templeton: 2 hits, 2 runs
• Nolan Copeland: 2 hits, RBI double

Season Leaders (through 17 games)

• Jake Tompkins: .273 AVG, 15 hits, 22 RBI, 2 HR
• Maddex Sims: .291 AVG, 16 hits, 11 runs scored
• Angel Leiva: .311 AVG, 14 hits, 1 HR
• Gabe Templeton: .324 AVG, .444 OBP, 12 hits
• Nate Wolfe: .385 AVG, 3 doubles, .615 SLG
• Cameron Lynch: 1–3 record, 24.0 IP, 23 strikeouts in six appearances
• Jonas Franti: 0.00 ERA, 12 strikeouts and one save in 8.2 innings pitched

Team Notes: .248 batting average, 94 runs scored, 32 stolen bases

What's Next

WVU Tech continues the series with Kentucky Christian on Saturday at 12:00 PM at Linda K. Epling Stadium in Beckley.