Bullpen struggles haunted WKU Baseball as they suffered their fourth Conference USA series loss at the hands of Missouri State this weekend at Hammons Field. 

The Hilltoppers fall to 20-20 and 7-11 in CUSA. WKU is 3-9 away from Nick Denes Field. 

The WKU bullpen gave up 21 runs on 25 hits in 13.1 innings of work. Only two of nine bullpen arms were able to get a scoreless outing.  In game one, junior right-hander Mick Uebelhor gave up six runs, handing the Bears a 9-6 lead. 

In the box, the Hilltoppers went 14-45 with runners on base and held it close against the Bears, getting outhit 33-25. Junior outfielder Hayden Robbins led the Hilltoppers in the weekend, hitting 6-16 with 5 RBI and scoring four runs. 

The win in game three broke Missouri State’s perfect record at home, and now stands 17-1 at Hammons Field. 

Game One 

WKU gave up a 6-3 lead and fell in game one 15-10. 

The Hilltoppers and Missouri State were back and forth in the opening three frames as the game stood in a 3-3 deadlock. However, in the fourth and fifth, the Hilltoppers scored three runs to give them a 6-3 lead. 

The Bears would respond with 12 unanswered runs, as they scored six runs in the sixth and seventh frames. Uebelhor gave up the runs in the sixth inning, and junior right-handers Trey Reinburg and Ka’olu Holt gave up the following six runs, giving Missouri State a 15-3 lead. 

WKU attempted a ninth-inning rally, scoring four runs, but fell just short of tying the game. The ninth frame was highlighted by a leadoff homerun by senior outfielder Daniel Stewart. Starter left-hander Aaron Robertson went four innings, giving up three runs on eight hits while walking three and striking out two.  

Missouri State needed six bullpen arms to get through the 25-run game, giving them minimal arms for game two on Saturday. 

Game Two 

Missouri State used a two-run ninth frame to win game two in extra innings, 8-6. 

WKU took a 6-4 lead into the ninth inning, but deja vu hit the Hilltoppers as they gave up a ninth-inning lead for the third time this season. Senior right-hander Dawson Hall went out for his third inning of action, and he gave up a leadoff double and a hit by pitch to his first two batters. Junior left-hander Zach Lyles would come in and last the remainder of the game. Senior outfielder Gabe Roessler hit the game-tying two RBI single off of Lyles. 

The Hilltoppers left three runners on base in extra innings and struck out three times. In the 12th, sophomore infielder Logan Fyffe would call the game with a two-run home run off of Lyles. 

Despite the loss, WKU had some highlights, including two-hit nights for junior infielder JP Acosta, graduate outfielder Parker Coley, and Robbins. 

Overall, the Hilltoppers left 10 runners on base and hit just 5-21 with runners on. 

Game Three

WKU spoiled the sweep with a 9-5 win over the Bears in game three.

Missouri State led the game 5-3 after five innings. The runs were highlighted by a two-run home run by junior two-way player Curry Sutherland and a fielding error by redshirt-sophomore Manny Alberto that allowed a run to score. 

The Bears could’ve had a larger lead, but failed to capitalize with bases loaded in the third inning. Sophomore right-hander Jude Favela relieved the starter, junior Jacob O’Day, with one out and got out of the bases-loaded jam with a strikeout and a flyout. 

The Hilltoppers rallied for five runs in the sixth as the first three batters reached base. Senior catcher Camden Ross batted in the first run with a fielder’s choice as the Bears failed to turn the double play. The bases were loaded for Robbins as senior infielder Austin Haller got a six-pitch walk. Robbins followed Haller’s walk with a grand slam to give WKU an 8-5 lead. 

WKU extended its lead to 10-5 with a run in the eighth and ninth innings. In the eighth, Alberto hit an RBI single to score Coley. The following inning, senior outfielder Cael Frost hit a ball at the pitcher’s mound, allowing junior infielder Lane Arroyos to score. 

Graduate right-hander Nathan Lawson was the pitcher for the final four innings after WKU took the lead. Lawson slowed the bats down, allowing just three baserunners, pitched the Bears to a double play, and struck out six batters.  

The Bears would strand a runner on first to end the game. 

WKU Baseball will return to action to face Eastern Kentucky University on Tuesday in Richmond, Kentucky. First pitch set for 5 p.m. CT.