LAFAYETTE, La. — For Franklin County’s Colby Beach his senior season at Western Kentucky will be one he and his teammates will always remember. On Sunday in Lafayette, La., Beach and the Hilltoppers added to that chapter with a historic 17-5 victory over conference rival New Orleans to win the Sun Belt Conference Tournament and receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

Beach, a Roxie native, started the game and pitched six innings for the Hilltoppers in gaining the win.

He struck out four and allowed two earned runs on five hits.

“I wanted the ball in my hands,” Beach said.

“This was the biggest game of the year, and we all knew we had to win it.”

With so much on the line, Beach dominated on the mound and his WKU teammates followed his lead hitting the ball far and wide to cap off a 21-hit performance.

Beach who played at Co-Lin Community College in 2004, transferred to WKU in 2006 after spending his sophomore season at Division Two Delta State.

“This is what I came here for,” Beach said. “To see if I could compete in Division I, and help my team win. It’s been a lot of fun playing with these guys this year. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”

The Hilltoppers, coached by Chris Finwood, ended up in the Oklahoma State regional in Stillwater, Okla.

“It feels good to win a game with so much on the line and know that you are going to the NCAA Tournament,” Beach said.

“As a college baseball player this is a dream come true.”