WKU Baseball went 1-2 in its Conference USA series against Sam Houston in Huntsville, Texas. 

The Hilltoppers dropped to 15-13 overall and 4-5 in conference play after the series. 

WKU continued its struggles in the box, only getting 10 hits in the two games of the series. In game one, the Hilltoppers only reached base eight, with four of those coming in the form of walks. However, WKU looked like a different team in game three, racking up 16 hits and eight runs. 

The WKU pitching staff allowed 14 runs on 22 hits while walking 16 batters and striking out 24. The starters combined for 13.2 innings, giving up six runs on 10 hits and six walks, and struck out 12 batters. 

Game 1 

Sam Houston defeated WKU 1-0 in game one of the series.

The Bearkats were backed up by a complete game from junior right-hander Ryan Peterson. The right-hander held the Hilltoppers to one hit and four walks while striking out six batters in his nine innings of work. 

Both teams left six runners on base, with no runners being brought home by either team. The Bearkats’ sole run came from a solo shot by junior infielder Hunter Alvord in the seventh inning. 

The Hilltoppers were silenced in the box, hitting 1-27 and only getting on base with four walks and two hit by pitches. WKU advanced four runners but left them on base after their advances. 

WKU’s pitching staff allowed the game to be close, as the team needed only two pitchers to get through eight innings of work. Graduate right-hander Aaron Robertson went five innings, not allowing a run on two hits, three walks, and struck out two. Junior right-hander Mick Uebelhor took the ball in the sixth inning and pitched the remaining three innings, giving up four hits, the sole home run, and walking one batter while striking out six. 

The Hilltoppers ended the game, leaving the tying run on second base with one out in the ninth inning. The next two batters would ground out, giving Sam Houston the 1-0 win. 

Game 2 

Sam Houston won 11-5 over the Hilltoppers in game two. 

The Bearkats scored 11 straight runs before WKU managed to get on board. Sam Houston wasted no time getting on the board as an RBI single by Alvord gave the Bearkats a 1-0 lead in the first inning. 

Sam Houston continued their effective hitting by putting up a four-run second inning with three straight RBI singles by the Bearkats’ top of the lineup.  

Sam Houston would score at least one run in the first five frames, while WKU managed just six runners in their first five frames. All six runners were left on base. 

The Hilltoppers continued their issue of bringing runners in as they left seven runners on base, while hitting 6-19 with runners on. 

Graduate starter Nathan Lawson, who started his first conference game, only went two innings, where he allowed five runs on five hits while walking two batters. The next two Hilltopper relievers, junior Jacob O’Day and freshman Kaine Samuels, both gave up three runs. Graduate right-hander Conner Wolf pitched the remaining 3.1 innings, where he gave up three hits and issued two walks. 

WKU found its footing in the seventh inning, putting up a three-run frame highlighted by an RBI triple by senior infielder Austin Haller and RBI singles by junior infielders Manny Alberto and Lane Arroyos.

The Hilltoppers then put up a two-run ninth by a two RBI single by Arroyos, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the 11 runs by Sam Houston. 

Game 3 

The Hilltoppers got their sole win in the series with an 8-2 win over Sam Houston in game three. 

WKU carried its hitting at the end of game two into the beginning of game three as Arroyos and fifth-year senior infielder Kyle Hayes brought in runs to open the game. 

Arroyos extended the lead in the fifth with a solo home run to give WKU a 3-0 lead. The Hilltoppers put up two more runs in the sixth with an RBI single by Alberto, who later scored by taking home after senior Parker Coley was caught stealing second base. 

The Hilltoppers in the box looked completely different than in the first two games as they got more hits in game three (16) than in the first two games combined (10), as they went 16-39 and 8-22 with runners on. Arroyos led the team, going 3-6 with three RBI and a home run. 

Graduate right-hander Gavin Perry started on the mound for the Hilltoppers, tossing 6.2 innings, holding the Bearkats to one run on three hits and striking out nine batters. 

The Hilltoppers’ pitching staff held Sam Houston to two runs on four hits, four walks and struck out 13 Bearkat batters. 

WKU Baseball will return to action for a midweek matchup against Tennessee Tech on Tuesday, March 31, at Nick Denes Field. First pitch set for 6 p.m.