WKU Baseball will return to Nick Denes Field March 28-30, hosting the Sam Houston State Bearkats in a three-game Conference USA series.
The Hilltoppers are coming off a 13-3 midweek win over the Evansville Purple Aces. WKU went 3-2 on their recent road trip, dropping their first CUSA series against Kennesaw State University. However, the Hilltoppers remain perfect at home with an 18-0 record and an overall record of 22-3.
Juniors Carlos Vasquez and Caleb Niehaus led the offense in Evansville. The pair went 6-for-8 combining for four RBIs.
Much of WKU’s early season success can be credited to its dominant pitching staff, which currently holds the second-best ERA in college baseball. The Hilltoppers have combined for a 2.80 ERA with 80 walks and 237 strikeouts, limiting opposing hitters to a .237 batting average
Junior Jack Bennett is set to start game one against the Bearkats. Bennett holds the seventh-best ERA in the country with a 1.05 in 25.2 innings alongside 26 strikeouts. He started the series opener at KSU, taking the loss after surrendering nine hits and four earned runs over 3.2 innings.
Sophomore Drew Whalen will take the mound in game two. Whalen has a 2.35 ERA and has allowed 27 hits, walked seven, and struck out 41. Whalen earned the win in game two against KSU, holding them to three hits and striking out six over 5.2 innings.
The game three starter is yet to be announced.
Sam Houston comes into the series still seeking its first CUSA series win of the season. The Bearkats are coming off a 13-3 run rule loss to No. 7 Texas. They sit at 7-18 overall with a 1-7 road record. Sam Houston opened conference play last weekend, losing two games to Louisiana Tech.
This marks the first time Sam Houston will travel to Nick Denes Field. The two met last season in Huntsville, Texas where WKU took two of the three games.
The series will open Friday at 4 p.m. and continue on Saturday at 4 p.m. The series will close on Sunday starting at 1 p.m.
Sports Reporter David Quintanilla can be reached at davidquintanilla0610@gmail.com.
