WKU Baseball secured a 13-9 win over the University of Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles Tuesday night at Nick Denes Field.
The Hilltoppers remained perfect at home (22-0) and improved their overall record to 28-5.
At the plate, WKU scored 13 runs on eight hits, with every starting hitter recording an RBI and scoring a run. Junior Carlos Vasquez had a standout game both offensively and defensively, going 1-for-1 with a walk, a home run and two runs scored. Vasquez also had two incredible fielding plays in left field.
“I asked (Assistant Coach Rob) Fournier and he said I was okay to swing at the first pitch,” Vasquez said. “Just running out there, just having fun, so catches (junior infielder Drew) Berragan was good with the vocals so I knew I had some room to make the catch.”
The Hilltoppers put together a dominant fourth inning, scoring 11 runs and sending 17 batters to the plate. WKU took advantage of defensive errors and timely hits extending its lead. The 11-run frame was the program’s highest-scoring inning since May 1, 2021, when WKU scored 10 runs in the seventh against Marshall.
On the mound, the Hilltoppers gave up nine hits, four walks and recorded 12 strikeouts. Four of USI’s runs came as a result of Hilltopper errors.
Senior Gavin Perry got the start and delivered a strong outing, tossing four scoreless innings with just one hit, no walks and four strikeouts.
The Hilltoppers jumped out to an early lead in the first inning when Vasquez launched a home run off the first pitch.
WKU added to its advantage in the fourth inning when a fielder’s choice throw to third allowed senior Ryan Wideman to cross the plate. A throwing error to second brought home junior Camden Ross and senior Kyle Hayes. Senior Austin Haller followed with an RBI single, and senior Ethan Lizama tacked on two more runs with a two-RBI single.
Wideman followed with a shallow RBI double. Junior Thomas Marsala hit a ball off the left-field wall for a two-RBI triple and was brought in by a sacrifice fly from Ross. Barragan capped off the inning with an RBI single, giving the Hilltoppers a 12-0 lead.
USI got on the scoreboard in the sixth inning after a throwing error by Barragan allowed a runner to score from third. The next batter followed with a three-run homer cutting the deficit to 12-4.
The Screaming Eagles scored three more runs in the seventh inning, the first run coming off a balk from junior Lucas Litteral. A two-RBI double cut the Hilltoppers lead to 12-7.
WKU added a run to its lead in the seventh inning after a double steal attempt led to a USI throwing error to second allowing junior Caleb Niehaus to score.
The Screaming Eagles scored two more runs in the eighth inning first from a bases-loaded walk from Evan Jones, followed by an RBI single, cutting the Hilltoppers lead to 13-9.
“I want the kids to take advantage of your opportunities. I want them to care. So there’s an avalanche, you know, to that,” Head Coach Marc Rardin said. “I don’t think we have problems, by all means, but its tough when you’re getting 30 some games into the season.” Head Coach Marc Rardin.
WKU Baseball returns to action this weekend April 11-13 playing a three-game Conference USA series against Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Sports Reporter David Quintanilla can be reached at davidquintanilla0610@gmail.com.
