[3] Tops Power Past [6] FIU; Advance to CUSA Championships Semifinals

Friday, May 24

Ruston, La.

4:00 PM CT

Western Kentucky University

36-21

FIU

27-29

FIU

WKU

[3] Tops Power Past [6] FIU; Advance to CUSA Championships Semifinals

5/24/2024 7:47:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

RUSTON, La. – WKU Baseball defeated FIU, 8-5, to advance to the semifinals of the Conference USA Championships on Friday evening at Pat Patterson Park. The third-seeded Hilltoppers will now face second-seeded Dallas Baptist on Saturday at 9 a.m. CT. Two wins over the Patriots on Saturday will propel WKU to the Conference USA Championship.

After falling behind 3-1 in the top of the fourth, senior Jaylin Rae belted a three-run home run over the left field wall in the bottom of the frame to give the Tops the lead. The Panthers evened the score in the seventh, but an RBI double from junior Blake Cavill and a two-run long ball from junior Ethan Lizama in the late stages gave WKU the lead and some insurance to close the game with a win.

On the mound, senior Mason Burns earned his third winning-decision of the year in his longest outing of the season. He struck out, a season-high, six batters in 3.2 innings of work while allowing just one run on two hits. Senior Lane Diuguid got the starting nod and kept the Panther offense at bay, conceding one run on three hits while fanning one in 3.0 frames. Sophomore Jack Bennett was effective out of the bullpen, surrendering one run on one hit while punching out two.

Rae recorded, a career-high, three RBI in a 2-for-4 outing with one run scored while Lizama had two RBI in a 2-for-4 day with a run scored. Sophomore Dylan O'Connell, junior Blake Cavill, and junior Eli Burwash had an RBI each while junior Joey Baran had the only three-hit game, going 3-for-4 at the plate.

O'Connell got the Tops on the board in the third inning with an RBI single, but the Panthers took the lead in the top of the fourth scoring three runs.

In the fourth, Rae's three-run homer gave WKU its second lead of the day before a sacrifice bunt from Burwash extended the Hilltopper advantage to two in the fifth.

FIU knotted things up with one run in each of the sixth and the seventh innings, but an RBI double from Cavill scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the frame.

Lizama's two-run shot added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth to help secure the victory.

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.