Hilltoppers Defeat UT Martin 7-2 for Fifth Consecutive Series Sweep

Sunday, March 16

Bowling Green, Ky.

1:00 PM CT

Western Kentucky University

19-1

UT Martin

6-12

UT Martin

WKU

Photo by: Savannah Philpot/WKU Athletics

Hilltoppers Defeat UT Martin 7-2 for Fifth Consecutive Series Sweep

3/16/2025 5:30:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Baseball defeated UT Martin 7-2 to sweep the series on Sunday afternoon at Nick Denes Field.

The Hilltoppers move to 19-1 – the best start in program history – and extend the win streak to 14 – the second-longest in program history – with the series sweep.

WKU remains undefeated at home with an 18-0 record at The Nick. That mark is good for the best start at home in program history. Of the 18 home wins, 16 of them have come in weekend series. The Tops have swept all five of their nonconference series.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Hilltoppers scored twice in the first inning with an RBI single from Camden Ross and an RBI double from Kyle Hayes.
• Hayes tallied his second RBI double in his next at-bat in the third inning to extend the lead to 3-0.
• A 443-foot three-run shot over the batter's eye from Thomas Marsala doubled the WKU advantage to 6-0 in the fourth.
• The Skyhawks got on the board in the sixth inning with an RBI triple.
• Ethan Lizama brought in the seventh run of the day with an RBI double off the wall in the sixth.
• UT Martin used an RBI double to cut the deficit to five in the ninth, but it would not be enough as WKU finished off the series sweep with a 7-2 win.

NOTABLES
• WKU moves to 19-1 through the first 20 games of the season – the best start in program history. 19-1 also ties the 2008 UCF Baseball team for the best start in Conference USA history.
• The Hilltoppers' winning streak grows to 14. That exceeds the 1978 WKU Baseball team for the second-longest winning streak in program history. The 2025 Hilltoppers only trail the 1980 team that won 19 games in a row.
• 18 of the Tops' 19 wins have come at Nick Denes Field. This is the first time WKU has started 18-0 at home in program history.
• The Hilltoppers have now swept all five of their nonconference series.
• WKU has now won all nine meetings with UT Martin dating back to 1993.
• Jack Bennett made his fourth start of the season on the mound for the Hilltoppers. The right-hander tossed 4.0 shutout innings and surrendered just two hits while recording six strikeouts on his way to his fourth win of the season.
• Lucas Litteral, Cal Higgins and Evan Jones made appearances out of the bullpen for WKU. Litteral fanned three Skyhawks in 2.0 frames while surrendering one run on two hits and a walk. Higgins pitched 2.0 scoreless frames and registered three strikeouts while conceding two hits before Jones capped the win with one strikeout in the ninth inning.
• The WKU offense scored seven runs on 12 hits and four walks with seven RBI.
• Lizama led the way in a 3-for-4 outing with three doubles, an RBI and a run.
• Marsala hit the only homer in a 2-for-4 day with three RBI and two runs.
• Hayes went 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI.

QUOTABLE
"We've done it for a little while now that it is just kind of status quo. We don't take it for granted. We're pretty humble about it and we just go about our business. I think that's what I appreciate about us. I think that is what we've talked about enough. Just kind of be who we are. Not who we think we are. You're either humble or being humbled, so we just kind of enjoy it and we have fun with it." – Head Coach Marc Rardin, on the fifth consecutive series sweep.

UP NEXT
• WKU will hit the road for a midweek contest at Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday, March 19. First pitch from Turkey Hughes Field in Richmond, Ky. is scheduled 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 X and @WKUBaseball on Instagram.