WKU Baseball continued its dominant 2025 campaign March 14-16, sweeping the UT Martin Skyhawks in a three-game series at Nick Denes Field.
The Hilltoppers extended its win streak to 14 games, remained perfect at home (18-0) and improved to a 19-1 record.
Senior Ethan Lizama continued his standout 2025 season, going 8-11 in the series with eight RBIs.
Game 1
WKU won the first game of the doubleheader Friday on a 12-5 comeback win.
UT Martin got on the board first in the second inning on a bases-loaded walk and a two-RBI single. The Skyhawks extended their lead in the fourth inning with an RBI single, making the game 4-0.
WKU responded with eight runs in the fourth inning. The rally started with an RBI single from senior Camden Ross, followed by junior Kyle Hayes reaching on a fielder’s choice and a throwing error that led Wideman to score.
Senior Ethan Lizama kept the momentum going with an RBI single. A throwing error off freshman infielder Reid Howard’s grounder allowed another run to score.
The Hilltoppers continued scoring with two outs as junior Carlos Vasquez hit a two-RBI single. Wideman finished the scoring in the fourth with a two-RBI triple giving WKU an 8-4 lead.
The Hilltoppers extended their lead in the fifth inning with a three-run home run by Howard and again in the sixth inning from an RBI single by Hayes.
The Skyhawks got a run back in the seventh with an RBI double.
Game 2
WKU finished the Friday doubleheader with a 7-1 win.
The Hilltoppers scored first in the first inning with a two-RBI single from junior Thomas Marsala.
The Skyhawks got a run back in the second inning from an RBI single, making the game 2-1.
WKU extended its lead in the third inning on a two-RBI single by Lizama. The Hilltoppers added to their lead in the sixth inning with an RBI single by junior Henry Brown, who later scored from third on a wild pitch, giving WKU a 6-1 lead.
The Hilltoppers closed the scoring in the seventh inning on an RBI bunt single by Lizama, scoring the runner from third.
Sophomore pitcher Drew Whalen went five innings, allowing six Skyhawks hits, one run and striking out three batters.
“It’s been enjoyable. It’s tiring. Those days are tiring. It takes pitching. It takes a grind. It takes big innings at times,” Head Coach Marc Rardin said about the doubleheader.
Game 3
WKU finished the series sweep with a 7-2 win.
The Hilltoppers opened the scoring in the first inning with an RBI single by Ross and an RBI double by senior Kyle Hayes.
WKU extended its lead in the third inning with another RBI double from Hayes. The Hilltoppers increased their lead in the fourth inning with a three-run home run by Marsala, making the game 6-0
The Skyhawks got a run in the sixth inning from an RBI triple, bringing the score to 6-1.
The Hilltoppers got another run on the board in the sixth inning with an RBI double by Lizama.
The Skyhawks pulled another run closer in the ninth inning with an RBI double.
Junior pitcher Jack Bennett continued his great 2025 season going four innings, keeping the Skyhawks to two hits, zero runs and striking out six.
“We’ve done it for a little while now that it is just kind of status quo,” Rardin said. “We don’t take it for granted. We’re pretty humble about it and we just go about our business. I think that’s what I appreciate about us. I think that is what we’ve talked about enough.”
WKU Baseball will return to action Wednesday at Eastern Kentucky. The first pitch is set for 5 p.m. in Richmond.
Sports Reporter David Quintanilla can be reached at davidquintanill0610@gmail.com
