WKU Baseball fell to No. 23 Vanderbilt 5-4 in an extra-innings battle Tuesday night in Nashville.
WKU recorded eight hits, drew two walks and struck out 14 times while leaving five runners on base. The top of the lineup led the way as juniors Carlos Vasquez and Ryan Wideman, along with senior Ethan Lizama combined to go 6-for-15. Wideman and Lizama each drove in a run, and the trio accounted for all four of the Hilltoppers’ runs.
On the mound, the Hilltoppers gave up eight hits, two walks and struck out three Commodore batters. Freshman Taylor Penn entered in the third inning and pitched 3.1 innings, holding Vanderbilt to zero hits and one walk. Senior Cal Higgins entered in the seventh inning, tossing 2.2 innings, giving up zero hits and three walks.
WKU scored the first run in the first inning on an RBI double by Lizama after Vasquez reached base on a fielding error.
Vanderbilt took the lead in the second inning, scoring on an RBI single by Mike Mancini, followed by an RBI triple from Jacob Humphrey. Humphrey then crossed home after junior Lucas Litteral was called for a balk.
The Commodores extended their lead in the sixth inning with a solo home run by Brodie Johnston, giving Vanderbilt a 4-1 lead.
The Hilltoppers tied the game in the eighth. Wideman started the rally with an RBI single, followed by a wild pitch that brought in Lizama. A sacrifice fly from junior Kyle Hayes scored Wideman and evened the game at 4-4.
Vanderbilt walked it off in the 10th inning. After an error by Vasquez allowed Humphrey to advance to second, RJ Austin delivered the game-winning RBI single to bring him home.
WKU will continue its road trip with a three-game Conference USA series at No. 17 Dallas Baptist from April 4–6. The Hilltoppers sit at 4-4 on the road with a 25-4 overall record.
Sports Reporter David Quintanilla can be reached at davidquintanilla0610@gmail.com
