WKU Falls to Kennesaw State 9-8 in Series Opener

Friday, March 21

Kennesaw, Ga.

5:00 PM CT

Western Kentucky University

20-2, 0

Kennesaw State

9-13, 0

Western Kentucky

Kennesaw State

Photo by: Jack Todd, WKU Athletics

3/21/2025 8:33:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

MARIETTA, Ga. – WKU Baseball fell to Kennesaw State 9-8 in the series opener on Friday night at S. Walter Kelly Sr. Memorial Field.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Kennesaw State got on the board in the first with an RBI single. A Hilltopper error on the same play allowed another run to come across.
• The Owls used a sacrifice fly to score another in the second inning.
• Ethan Lizama put up the first run of the game for WKU with an RBI double down the right line to cut the deficit to 3-1.
• The Tops used a six-run fourth inning to take the lead, 7-3. Dylan O'Connell scored on a wild pitch before Carlos Vasquez and Ryan Wideman drove in four RBI combined in back-to-back at-bats.
• An RBI double from KSU in the bottom of the fourth cut the WKU lead to 7-4.
• An Owl solo homer made it 7-5 in the fifth.
• Another Kennesaw State sacrifice fly in the seventh put the Hilltopper advantage at 7-6.
• The Owls scored three times in the eighth to take the lead, 9-7.
• Drew Barragan checked in and launched a pinch-hit homer in the ninth, but it would not be enough as the Hilltoppers failed to bring another run across.

NOTABLES
• WKU drops to 20-2 (0-1 CUSA) on the season.
• Jack Bennett got the starting nod on the mound for the Hilltoppers. The right-hander struck out four in 3.2 innings of work while surrendering three earned runs – the first time he's allowed earned runs to score this season.
• Lucas Hartman, Dawson Hall and Cal Higgins made appearances out of the bullpen. Hartman was the most effective, allowing just one run in 2.1 frames while collecting three punchouts.
• The WKU offense scored eight runs on nine hits and three walks with seven RBI.
• Vasquez was the only Hilltopper with a multi-hit outing in a 2-for-5 night with a pair of doubles, two RBI and two runs scored.
• Wideman was 1-for-3 with two RBI, a run and a walk.
• Barragan left the yard in a pinch-hit situation for his first homer of the year.
• Lizama added a double and an RBI.

UP NEXT
• WKU and Kennesaw State will continue the series tomorrow afternoon at S. Walter Kelly Sr. Memorial Field. First pitch is set for 3 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.