Hilltoppers Weather the Storm and Wildcats, Top Kentucky 6-4 After Lengthy Delay

Tuesday, April 29

Bowling Green, Ky.

3:00 PM CT

Western Kentucky University

35-10

Kentucky

25-17

Kentucky

WKU

Photo by: Steve Roberts/WKU Athletics

Hilltoppers Weather the Storm and Wildcats, Top Kentucky 6-4 After Lengthy Delay

4/29/2025 10:27:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Baseball defeated Kentucky 6-4 on Tuesday afternoon at Nick Denes Field.

After a two-hour weather delay, the Hilltoppers took down the Wildcats at home for the first time since 2015 on the back of a 14-hit performance from the offense and some clutch pitching from Patrick Morris in the late stages. This marks the first win over a Power Four opponent for the Hilltoppers this year and the 26th win at Nick Denes Field this season – the fourth-most home wins in a single-season in program history.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Kentucky scored first on a fielder's choice sacrifice bunt in the first inning.
• The Wildcats took a 2-0 lead with an RBI single in the fourth.
• A solo homer added to the UK advantage in the fifth frame.
• WKU took the lead 4-3 in the home half of the inning. Reid Howard doubled to drive in the first run of the game before Ryan Wideman knotted the score with a two-RBI single. Ethan Lizama put the Tops in front with an RBI base knock in the next at-bat.
• Two more runs scored in the sixth for the Hilltoppers. Howard used a sacrifice fly to score the fifth run before Carlos Vasquez doubled to center field to drive in another.
• The game was halted at 5:33 PM CT during the bottom of the seventh and play resumed at 7:50 PM CT.
• Kentucky used an RBI single to cut its deficit to two, but it wouldn't be enough as the Hilltopper retrieved the final out for a 6-4 victory.

NOTABLES
• WKU moved to 35-10 (11-7 CUSA) on the season and 30-41 all-time against Kentucky (25-17, 10-11 SEC).
• This marks the Hilltopper's first win over Kentucky since 2022 and the first win at home over the Wildcats since 2015.
• WKU moved to 26-1 at home in 2025 – the best start at home and the fourth-most wins at home in a single-season in program history. One more win will tie the 1988, 2002 and 2009 Hilltopper teams for the most home wins in a single-season in program history (27).
• Coach Rardin collects his first win over an SEC opponent and his fourth win over a Power Four opponent in three years at the helm.
• Gavin Perry made his eighth start on the mound and tossed 3.1 innings. The right-hander allowed two runs on four hits with one walk and one strikeout.
• Zach Lyles, Treyson Peters, Patrick Morris and Lucas Hartman made appearances out of the bullpen. Lyles and Peters combined for 2.2 frames, surrendering one run on three hits and one walk with three strikeouts. Peters earned the win to improve his record to a perfect 3-0. Morris was one out shy of the save in 2.2 innings of work. He conceded one run on two hits and one walk with one punchout. Hartman earned his third save of the season, collecting the final out to secure the win.
• The WKU offense scored six runs on 14 hits and drew a walk, with six RBI.
• Howard paced the offense in a 2-for-3 outing with a double, two RBI and a run scored.
• Wideman drove in two runs in a 1-for-4 performance.
• Vasquez produced three hits, including a double, with one RBI and one run scored while Lizama went 2-for-4 with an RBI.
• Austin Haller also had multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with a run scored.

QUOTABLES
• "I think it's a big win after the weekend. We just needed to be on the board. Just get back to being ourselves. 14 hits, put some runs up on the board, played good defense, pitched well. We're just kind of back to being in our own skin. Yeah, it was against Kentucky and that's great, too, but just being ourselves. I just thought that was the best thing for us." – Head Coach Marc Rardin on the bounce-back victory over Kentucky.

UP NEXT
• WKU hosts Louisiana Tech for a three-game series at Nick Denes Field. First pitch on Friday, May 2 is set for 6 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.