BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Sophomore Camden Ross tallied six RBI as WKU Baseball defeated FIU 14-4 for its first Conference USA win of the season on Saturday at Nick Denes Field. The Hilltoppers even the series and improved to 16-8 (1-1 CUSA) while the Panthers fall to 12-11 (3-2 CUSA).
"How often does that happen in Division I … This is like a unicorn, I think," said head coach Marc Rardin. "When one team run-rules one day and then we do it the next … Those are just the trials and tribulations we go through with our kids and the game. Some of it you just can't explain."
At the plate, Ross went 2-for-4 with a grand slam, a double, six RBI, and a run scored. Junior Ethan Lizama was 2-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored while junior Blake Cavill recorded the only three-hit performance, going 3-for-5 and scoring a run. Juniors Cristian Garcia, Brady Browning, Joey Baran, and Eli Burwash knocked in a run a piece, and all scored at least once.
Junior Jacob Bimbi threw 4.0 innings and struck out six while allowing two runs to improve to 3-0 on the season. Two Hilltoppers saw relief work in juniors Cole Heath and Grant Burleson. In 4.1 frames, the two combined to allow just two runs on two hits while fanning two Panther hitters.
The Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, but a grand slam from Ross in the bottom of the third gave WKU the lead and the Hilltoppers never looked back.
FIU cut its deficit to two with an RBI double in the fourth, but the Tops tacked on a run in the fifth and the sixth with RBI singles from Baran and Lizama to extend the lead to 6-2.
A solo home run from the Panthers kept it close in the seventh, but an RBI double from Burwash and an error by the Panthers added three for WKU in the home half of the frame.
In the eighth, a bases loaded walk plated one run for FIU, but a five-run inning for the WKU offense capped the game in the bottom of the inning. Garcia and Lizama drove in runs with RBI singles while a sacrifice fly from Browning scored another. Ross capped the game with a walk-off, two-RBI double and ended the game in run-rule fashion with a final score of 14-4.
UP NEXT
The Hilltoppers and Panthers will conclude their series tomorrow afternoon at Nick Denes Field. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. CT.
How to follow WKU Baseball: For complete information on WKU Hilltopper Baseball, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program via social media @WKU_Baseball on Twitter and @WKUBaseball on Instagram.
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