#20 Hilltoppers Rally Late, Take Game One Over Blue Raiders 9-5

Thursday, April 17

Bowling Green, Ky.

6:00 PM CT

Western Kentucky University

32-6, 10-3

Middle Tennessee

17-21, 3-10

Middle Tennessee

WKU

Photo by: Steve Roberts/WKU Athletics

#20 Hilltoppers Rally Late, Take Game One Over Blue Raiders 9-5

4/17/2025 10:33:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – #20 WKU Baseball defeated Middle Tennessee 9-5 in game one on Thursday night at Nick Denes Field.

Down 5-4 in the bottom of the eighth, the Hilltoppers rallied to score five runs in the frame. Kyle Hayes tied the game at 5-5 with a solo homer before Thomas Marsala put WKU in front with a solo shot of his own just a couple of at-bats later. Joe Siervo tacked on a pair with a two-RBI single and later scored on a wild pitch that gave the Tops a four-run advantage going into the ninth inning.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Middle Tennessee scored first with a two-run home run in the first inning.
• The Blue Raiders used a fielder's choice to score another in the second to pad their lead to 3-0.
• Austin Haller used a three-RBI double to tie the game in the second inning, 3-3.
• MTSU retook the lead with an RBI double in the fifth.
• An RBI triple from Hayes knotted the score at 4-4 in the bottom of the frame.
• Middle Tennessee doubled to left center to go back in front 5-4 in the sixth.
• Five runs scored for WKU in the eighth. A pair of solo homers from Hayes and Marsala gave the Tops their first lead of the game before Siervo added insurance with a two-run single. He later scored on a wild pitch to put the final run on the board and make the final tally 9-5.

NOTABLES
• WKU moves to 32-6 (10-3 CUSA) on the season and 134-119-2 all-time against Middle Tennessee (17-21, 3-10 CUSA).
• The Hilltoppers have won three of the last four against the Blue Raiders dating back to last season's series win in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
• 23 of the Tops' 32 wins have come at Nick Denes Field. This is the first time the Hilltoppers have started 23-0 at home in program history.
• Jack Bennett got the starting nod on the mound. The right-hander tossed 2.0 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on two hits.
• Patrick Morris, Lucas Hartman and Cal Higgins saw action out of the bullpen. Morris worked 2.0 shutout frames and struck out four batters while surrendering just one hit. Hartman conceded two runs (one earned) on five hits in 4.0 innings while striking out five. He earned his fourth win of the season to improve to a perfect 4-0. Higgins tossed a scoreless frame and struck out one in the ninth to secure the win.
• The WKU offense scored nine runs on 13 hits and four walks with eight RBI.
• Six Hilltoppers totaled multi-hit performances, led by Haller in a 2-for-3 outing with a double, three RBI, a run scored and a walk.
• Hayes had a home run, a triple, two RBI, two runs scored and a walk in a 2-for-3 night.
• Siervo was 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored.
• Thomas Marsala went 2-for-4 with a home run, an RBI and a run scored.
• Carlos Vasquez and Ryan Wideman each went 2-for-5 with Vasquez adding a run.

QUOTABLE
• "The thing is, we've been in every single game this whole year. This entire year, we're in every game and that's kind of crazy to say because we only have six losses. I was just trying to tell them how dangerous they are, whether we're playing a Vanderbilt or a Louisville or Middle Tennessee. They come in here excited. We knew it was going to be a dog fight. With that being said, it's our overall record and national attention that we start getting. It's the new WKU that people are playing. All of these kids don't know about what WKU was four years ago. All they know is what WKU is right now." – Head Coach Marc Rardin on the series-opening win.

UP NEXT
• WKU and Middle Tennessee will continue the series tomorrow afternoon at Nick Denes 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.