Tops Complete Sweep of Jax State

Saturday, March 30

Jacksonville, Ala.

1:00 PM CT

Western Kentucky University

19-10, 4-2

Jacksonville State

9-18, 0-6

Western Kentucky

Jacksonville State

Photo by: Jack Todd, WKU Athletics

3/30/2024 5:22:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – 17 hits from the Hilltopper offense led WKU to an 11-6 win over Jax State to complete the three-game series sweep on Saturday afternoon at Rudy Abbott Field at Jim Case Stadium. The Hilltoppers improve to 19-10 (4-2 CUSA) while the Gamecocks fall to 9-18 (0-6 CUSA).

Six different Hilltoppers had at least one RBI with three of them having two or more in the contest. Junior Brady Browning went 4-for-5 with a double, three RBI, and two runs scored. Australians Blake Cavill and Jaylin Rae drove in two RBI and added one hit a piece while juniors Ethan Lizama and Austin Haller both produced three-hit outings with an RBI a piece. Camden Ross recorded a pair of hits with a double, one RBI, and three runs scored.

The Tops pitching staff was stellar once again, only allowing three earned runs on the day. Senior Lane Diuguid struck out two in 3.0 innings to earn his first win.

WKU took an early lead in the first with Lizama drawing a throw to second on a delayed steal to score a runner on third, but Jax State wasted no time evening things up with a sacrifice fly in the home half of the frame.

A Hilltopper error caused three unearned runs to score in the second, but a four-run third inning put WKU back in front. Back-to-back doubles from Ross and Lizama plated two runs before a sacrifice fly from Cavill tied the game. An RBI single from Browning capped the inning and put the Tops ahead, 5-4.

Three more runs crossed for WKU in the fifth with back-to-back-to-back RBI singles from Browning, Haller, and Rae to make the score 8-4.

A solo home run from the Gamecocks cut their deficit to three in the sixth before adding another in the eighth with an RBI single.

A three-run ninth inning for the Tops put the game out of reach. Back-to-back doubles from Cavill and Browning tacked on two before Rae put down a sacrifice bunt to extend the lead to 11-6.

Senior Coby Moe shut down the Gamecock offense in the ninth claiming two strikeouts in a scoreless inning of work.

UP NEXT

The Hilltoppers will hit the road on Tuesday for a midweek contest against No. 7 Vanderbilt. First pitch from Hawkins Field in Nashville, Tenn. is set for 6 p.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.