Hilltoppers Host Louisville on Tuesday

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Baseball is set to host a midweek matchup with in-state foe, Louisville on Tuesday, April 9. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. CT.

LAST TIME OUT
• WKU took two-of-three against No. 8 Dallas Baptist.
• The Hilltoppers handed the Patriots their first series loss of the season and their first Conference USA series loss since joining the league in 2023.
• The story of game one was the dominance of sophomore Jack Bennett. The right-hander was one out shy of a complete-game and claimed, a career-high, 11 strikeouts in the longest outing of his career while only surrendering one run on four hits in the 4-1 win.
• In game two, senior Jacob Bimbi tossed 5.2 shutout innings while registering eight strikeouts on his way to his fourth winning decision of the season. The Tops offense crossed home six times on four hits on their way to a 6-3 series-clinching win.
• WKU was blanked in game three, 3-0. One swing was the difference as a three-run home run left the yard for the only scoring play of the game.

BENNETT TABBED CUSA PITCHER OF THE WEEK
• Sophomore Jack Bennett was named the Conference USA Pitcher of the Week, as announced by league officials Monday afternoon.
• Bennett, a native of Paducah, Ky., was one out short of a complete-game on Friday night in a 4-1 win over the No. 8 ranked Dallas Baptist Patriots in the series opener.
• The right-hander registered, a career-high, 11 strikeouts in the longest outing of his collegiate career while only conceding one run on four hits and three walks.
• Bennett notched the first double-digit strikeout performance since the last time a WKU pitcher won CUSA Pitcher of the Week.
• Left-hander Devyn Terbrak received this honor after he threw a complete-game, no-hitter with 14 strikeouts in a 3-0 win over the South Dakota State Jackrabbits in the 2023 season.
• So far in 2024, Bennett is among the best in CUSA, ranking in the top 10 in ERA (3.98), opposing batting average (.222), innings pitched (40.2), strikeouts (43), strikeouts looking (14), wins (4), hits allowed (34), runs allowed (19), and earned runs allowed (18).
• So far in 2024, Bennett is among the best in CUSA, ranking in the top 10 in ERA (3.98), opposing batting average (.222), innings pitched (40.2), strikeouts (43), strikeouts looking (14), wins (4), hits allowed (34), runs allowed (19), and earned runs allowed (18).

RARDIN IN CUSA PLAY
• After a 2-10 start to league play in 2023, head coach Marc Rardin and the Tops rattled off five consecutive CUSA series wins, including series sweeps over Florida Atlantic, 2023 CUSA Tournament Champion, Charlotte, and Rice.
• WKU earned fourth place after the conclusion of the regular season, tied for its highest rank heading into the CUSA Tournament.
• Rardin led the Tops to 18 total CUSA wins, including two victories in the CUSA Tournament, the most WKU has had since joining the conference in 2015.
• So far in 2024, the Hilltoppers own a 6-3 mark in league play after a series win over No. 8 Dallas Baptist last weekend, the program's first series win over top 10 ranked opponent since at least 2005.

THE SACRIFICE PLAY
• WKU leads the nation in sacrifice bunts with 42 this season thus far.
• In two years with Marc Rardin at the helm, WKU ranks second in the country with 98 sacrifice bunts, only trailing Wofford that has tallied 116 since the beginning of the 2023 season.
• Juniors Zayd Brannigan and Joey Baran rank in the top 50 in the nation in individual sacrifice bunts. Brannigan sits at fourth with eight while Baran is tied for 23rd with six.

SERIES HISTORY
• This will be the 144th meeting between WKU and Louisville with the Cardinals owning a 74-69 all-time series lead.
• The last 10 matchups have gone in favor of Louisville with the last Hilltopper win coming in 2015 by a score of 7-3 in Louisville, Ky.

SCOUTING THE HILLTOPPERS
• WKU is 21-11 (6-3 CUSA) after a series win over No. 8 Dallas Baptist last weekend.
• The Hilltoppers have four players hitting over .300, led by junior Ethan Lizama (.328) with juniors Brady Browning (.316), Austin Haller (.315), and Blake Cavill (.310) not far behind.
• On the mound, WKU holds a 4.35 team ERA with 286 strikeouts in 277.0 innings.

SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
• Louisville is 20-11 (6-6 ACC) after sweeping No. 19 NC State last weekend.
• The Cardinals are led by Lucas Moore at the plate, hitting .359.
• The Louisville pitching staff has produced a 4.99 team ERA and has recorded 286 strikeouts in 262.2 frames.

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 Instagram.

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Players Mentioned

Joey Baran

Jack Bennett

Jacob Bimbi

Zayd Brannigan

Brady Browning

Blake Cavill

Austin Haller

Ethan Lizama

Devyn Terbrak