WKU Baseball suffered a Conference USA series loss against the Jax State Gamecocks, May 15-17.
The Hilltoppers dropped game one and three of the series, their second and third losses at Nick Denes Field.
Despite the series loss, WKU secured the second seed in CUSA with an 18-9 record.
In the series, WKU out-hit Jax State 31-24, but the Hilltoppers couldn’t capitalize, leaving 32 on base.
Senior pitcher Patrick Morris started game one and three, combining for four innings and keeping the Gamecocks to one hit, one run, three walks and striking out four across his two starts.
“It starts from game one, just too much anxiety, too much trying outside of our own skin,” said Head Coach Marc Rardin.
Game 1
Jax State got on the board first in the third inning, scoring off a wild pitch.
The Hilltoppers tied the game in the fourth inning with a solo home run from junior catcher Kyle Hvidsten, tying the game 1-1.
Jax State took a 4-1 lead in the sixth inning with a solo home run from senior infielder Carson Hornung and a two-RBI single from freshman utility player Matthew Cash.
The Gamecocks extended their lead in the seventh inning with a bases-loaded walk that allowed Hornung to score, giving Jax State the 5-1 win.
Game 2
WKU got on the board first with redshirt junior Carlos Vasquez reaching home during a double play attempt, giving the Hilltoppers a 1-0 lead.
Jax State took the lead in the third inning with a two-RBI triple from redshirt sophomore infielder Cooper Blauser, giving the Gamecocks a 2-1 lead.
Redshirt junior Henry Brown stole home in the third inning, tying the game 2-2.
The Gamecocks got the lead back in the fourth inning with an RBI double from Cash, giving Jax State a 3-2 lead.
The Hilltoppers tied the game in the fifth inning with an RBI single from senior infielder Kyle Hayes.
Jax State got the lead back in the sixth inning with an RBI single from junior outfielder Ace Williamson, giving the Gamecocks a 4-3 lead.
A sac fly from Hayes tied the game in the sixth inning.
The Hilltoppers jumped ahead with a seventh-inning rally. Senior infielder Austin Haller started the rally with a two-RBI single. Hvidsten continued the scoring with an RBI single. Junior Ryan Wideman brought in another run with a single, and while on base, set the program record for stolen bases in a season (42) after stealing second and third base. The fifth and final run of the inning came in from an RBI single by senior Ethan Lizama, giving WKU a 9-4 lead.
Game 3
Jax State got on the board first in the first inning off a solo home run from senior outfielder Drew Collins, giving the Gamecocks a 1-0 lead.
WKU tied the game at 1-1 in the second inning with a solo home run from freshman infielder Reid Howard.
The Gamecocks took a 2-1 lead in the third inning with a RBI single from Hornung.
A two-run home run from Lizama gave the Hilltoppers a 3-2 lead in the third inning.
Jax State took a 7-3 lead in the fifth inning, first with a two-RBI single from Blauser, followed by a three-RBI double from Williamson.
The Hilltoppers got two runs back in the sixth inning with a two-run home run from Hvidsten. WKU got another run back in the eighth inning with a sac fly from Hvidsten, cutting the Hilltoppers’ deficit to 7-6.
A two-run home run from redshirt sophomore catcher Grayson Ashe gave the Gamecocks a 9-6 lead and the win.
WKU Baseball will begin the CUSA tournament Wednesday, May 21 in Lynchburg, Virginia, against the New Mexico State Aggies.
Sports Reporter David Quintanilla can be reached at [email protected].
