WKU baseball made a statement on the road this weekend, winning two of three games against No. 17 Dallas Baptist University.
The Hilltoppers improved to 6-3 CUSA record and an overall record of 27-5. This is the Hilltoppers’ second CUSA series win. This also marks the first series loss for DBU this season.
WKU pitching continued its great 2025 season. The Hilltoppers held the Patriots to 17 hits and at one point to 17 straight scoreless innings.
Offensively the Hilltoppers outscored DBU 15-3. Junior Ryan Wideman kept his impressive 2025 season going, hitting 5-for-12 with two RBIs.
Game 1
WKU took game one Friday 4-3
DBU jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning behind a two-RBI double and an RBI single
WKU responded in the second inning with an RBI single from senior Kyle Hayes. The Hilltoppers took the lead in the third inning from a three-run home run by senior Camden Ross, giving WKU a 4-3 lead.
Junior Jack Bennett went 4.2 innings, allowing three runs, five hits, three walks and striking out three. Senior Lucas Hartman relieved Bennett in the fifth, throwing 2.2 hitless innings, giving up three walks and striking out three. Senior Cal Higgins came in for a 1.2 inning save keeping DBU to one hit and striking out two.
Game 2
WKU took game two in a run-rule 11-0 victory.
The Hilltoppers got to an early lead in the first inning from a two-RBI single from Ross, followed by a passed ball that allowed senior Ethan Lizama to score. WKU extended its lead in the second inning with an RBI single by Wideman, giving the Hilltoppers 4-0 lead.
WKU scored another run in the third inning from an RBI double by Hayes. The Hilltoppers added two runs in the fifth inning, the first one came from an RBI single by Lizama followed by an RBI single from junior Joe Siervo.
The Hilltoppers put four runs on the board in the sixth inning. The first run came from an RBI by Wideman, followed by a hit by pitch that allowed junior Drew Barragan to score. DBU balked which allowed Wideman to come in to score. The final run came in on an RBI single by Hayes.
WKU pitching kept the Patriots to seven hits and had zero walks and two strikeouts. Junior Dawson Hall made his second start of the season, going six innings, and striking out two. Sophomore Zach Lyles came in to close out the game in the seventh inning. He didn’t allow a hit or walk and enforced the run rule.
Game 3
WKU dropped the final game of the series 5-1.
DBU got two runs in the first inning, first from an RBI groundout followed by a sac fly giving the Patriots a 2-0 lead.
WKU answered back in the fifth inning on an RBI groundout by junior Drew Barragan, cutting the lead to 2-1.
The Patriots scored a run in the sixth inning off a passed ball. DBU scored again in the seventh inning off a home run giving DBU a 5-1 win.
WKU will return home Tuesday, April 8 for a midweek game against Southern Illinois. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. at Nick Denes Field.
Sports Reporter David Quintanilla can be reached at davidquintanilla0610@gmail.com.
