Lizama Homers Twice as Tops Extinguish Flames for Series Sweep

Sunday, April 21

Bowling Green, Ky.

1:00 PM CT

Western Kentucky University

29-12, 11-4

Liberty

17-22, 9-6

Liberty

WKU

Photo by: Evan Brown/WKU Athletics

Lizama Homers Twice as Tops Extinguish Flames for Series Sweep

4/21/2024 5:11:00 PM | Baseball

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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Junior Ethan Lizama went yard twice in a three-hit day as WKU Baseball defeated Liberty 5-4 to complete the series sweep on Sunday afternoon Nick Denes Field. The Hilltoppers improve to 29-12 (11-4 CUSA) while the Flames drop to 17-22 (9-6 CUSA).

With the victory, WKU maintains sole possession of first place in Conference USA.

"You're proud for your staff and for your players," said head coach Marc Rardin. "They're working hard. They are truly buying in to who we are and what we're doing. That makes us more dangerous at times. We're not invincible. I talked to them afterwards, we're not invincible. You go through life, you're either humble or being humbled. We are going to be appreciative. The ego is the enemy. We are who we are. We're not going to be anybody else and we're just ready for the next game."

Lizama led the way for the Hilltopper offense plating four runs with a pair of two-run shots. Senior Jayline Rae registered his first Big Red Bomb with a solo home run in a 2-for-2 day and a run scored. Junior Blake Cavill had the only other multi-hit effort, going 2-for-4 with a double.

Sophomore Dawson Hall made his first start on the mound since March 10 and posted five strikeouts in 3.0 innings while allowing one run to cross the plate. Junior Grant Burleson earned his first win as a Hilltopper, striking out four batters in 2.2 frames of shutout baseball while surrendering one hit.

Lizama's first homer of the day put the Tops ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the first.

Liberty got one back in the top of the third with an RBI single to cut into the WKU lead.

Two home runs for the Flames in the top of the fifth gave them a 6-4 lead, but Lizama's second long ball tied the game right back up 6-6 in the bottom of the frame.

Rae's hot shot to the Tops bullpen broke the tie and put the Tops back in front 5-4.

Senior Mason Burns tallied his second save of the weekend, holding the Flames off the scoreboard for the final 1.2 innings while only conceding one hit. The Bloomington, Ill. native is only the second pitcher in program history to record 12 saves in a season and sits two shy of the single-season record behind Ian Tompkins with 14.

UP NEXT

The Hilltoppers will hit the road on Tuesday for a midweek contest at Louisville. First pitch is set for 5 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.