WKU Baseball will host the Liberty Flames for a three-game Conference USA series this week at Nick Denes Field.
The Hilltoppers come into the weekend with a 16-13 record and a CUSA record of 4-5, placing them seventh in the conference. At Nick Denes Field, WKU is currently 14-7.
WKU is coming off a 12-0 seven-inning run-rule over Tennessee Tech, where the Hilltopper pitching staff threw a no-hitter. Seven pitchers were used, with each getting an inning of work.
“This leads into hopefully a productive practice with energy and getting us ready for a really good Liberty team coming in and playing Thursday,” Rardin said.
Offensively, the Hilltoppers were led by senior outfielder Daniel Stewart against Tennessee Tech. Stewart went 3-3 with two RBI. Junior infielder Lane Arroyos leads the team with a .357 batting average and 36 RBI. Arroyos leads CUSA with 40 hits. Two more Hilltoppers hit over .300, senior catcher Camden Ross (.322) and senior infielder Austin Haller (.300).
Head Coach Marc Rardin will shake up his starting rotation once again. Redshirt sophomore left-hander Zach Serup will start on the mound in the series opener on Thursday. Serup’s last start ended after just one out as he gave up three runs, one on four hits, against Jacksonville State. The left-hander holds a 6.14 ERA with 22 strikeouts and five walks in 14.2 innings.
Graduate left-hander Aaron Robertson will get the ball for game two. Robertson pitched five innings in his last start against Sam Houston, where he held them to zero runs on two hits and three walks. Robertson carries a Hilltopper low 3.21 ERA alongside 21 strikeouts and three walks in 28 innings of work.
Graduate right-hander Gavin Perry will take the mound in the series closer. Perry was the game three starter against Sam Houston, where he held the Bearkats to one run on three hits and struck out a career high nine batters in 6.2 innings of work. The right-hander carries a 5.23 ERA with 36 strikeouts and 16 walks in 32.2 innings.
“We’re looking to get three innings out of each of them, then kind of do some bullpen work,” Rardin said. “We still got too long of a season to go to start pressing some of our starters with their arms.”
Liberty comes into the series with a 19-9 record and 6-3 in CUSA, putting them second in the conference. The Flames are coming off a comeback win over North Carolina State, where Liberty put up a three-run ninth frame to steal the win. Last weekend, the Flames swept FIU in a three-game series, outscoring the Panthers 24-4.
Offensively, the Flames are led by senior infielder Jordan Jaffe, who bats .338 with 14 RBI and five walks. Jaffe went 2-5 with three RBI against NC State.
On the mound, Liberty holds a 4.52 team ERA, the second lowest in CUSA. The Flames also hold teams to the second-lowest batting average in CUSA (.211). Sophomore right-hander Bradley Zayac leads the team with a 1.41 ERA and a CUSA high of 59 strikeouts. In his last start against FIU, he held the Panthers to one hit with seven strikeouts and one walk in five innings of work.
WKU and Liberty have met six previous times, where the Hilltoppers lead the head-to-head 6-0. Last season, the two teams faced off in Lynchburg, Virginia, for a three-game series, where WKU outscored Liberty 14-7.
The first pitch on Thursday is set for 6 p.m., with the series continuing on Friday at 4 p.m. The series will close out on Saturday with the first pitch set for 1 p.m.
