WKU Baseball will return to Nick Denes Field to host a midweek game against Tennessee Tech on Tuesday.
The Hilltoppers are coming off a 2-1 Conference USA series loss against Sam Houston last weekend. The series brought WKU to a 15-13 overall record and a 4-5 CUSA record.
In the series, WKU continued its struggles at the plate, recording just 10 hits in the first two games. 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 in its 8-2 win.
The WKU pitching staff against Sam Houston 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.
As a team, the Hilltoppers are batting .268, seventh in CUSA with 138 walks. Junior infielder Lane Arroyos leads the team with a .358 batting average, 34 RBI, and a CUSA high 13 doubles. Arroyos went 5-15 with six RBI against Sam Houston.
Senior catcher Camden Ross is hitting .322 and is the only other Hilltopper bat hitting over .300. Ross has 22 walks and 17 RBI along with his .322 average. Against the Bearkats, Ross batted 2-9 with two walks and a strikeout.
On the mound, the Hilltoppers carry a 5.31 ERA, seventh in CUSA. Graduate right-hander Aaron Robertson leads the team with a 3.21 ERA, with 21 strikeouts and three walks in 28 innings of work. In game one against Sam Houston, Robertson had five innings of work, holding the Bearkats to no runs on two hits, three walks and striking out two batters.
In the Hilltoppers’ last midweek matchup against Louisville, Head Coach Marc Rardin used seven pitchers. On average, Rardin throws out 4.6 pitchers during midweek games, proving to be a time to try out new arms.
Tennessee Tech comes into the midweek with a 9-19 record and a 0-6 record in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Golden Eagles were swept by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in a three-game series last weekend. Tennessee Tech was outscored 22-3.
In their last midweek game, the Golden Eagles were run-ruled 15-5 in eight innings by Vanderbilt. Tennessee Tech has been run-ruled six times, including by fellow CUSA school Middle Tennessee State.
The Golden Eagles are led by senior outfielder Jorsixt Jimenez, who boasts a .336 average with 40 RBIs on 36 hits. Jimenez also leads the team in home runs with 11 on the year. Against SIUE, Jimenez went 1-12 with one RBI and four strikeouts.
As a team, the Golden Eagles carry a 9.09 ERA into Nick Denes Field. Senior right-hander Jaxson Pease leads the team with a 4.58 ERA with 25 strikeouts and seven walks in 35.1 innings of work.
The Tuesday matchup marks the 124th meeting between WKU and Tennessee Tech, with the Hilltoppers leading the head-to-head, 71-50-2. Their last matchup came on March 3 2025, at Tennessee Tech, where WKU won 15-4 in eight innings. In Bowling Green, the Hilltoppers are 32-23-1 against the Golden Eagles.
First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
