Tops Clinch Series Against #17 Patriots with Run-Rule Shutout

Saturday, April 5

Dallas, Texas

3:00 PM CT

Western Kentucky University

27-4, 6-2

Dallas Baptist

19-11, 4-4

WKU

DBU

Photo by: Jack Todd, WKU Athletics

Tops Clinch Series Against #17 Patriots with Run-Rule Shutout

4/5/2025 8:19:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

DALLAS – WKU Baseball shut out #17 Dallas Baptist 11-0 in seven innings to clinch the series win on Saturday afternoon at Horner Ballpark.

The Tops pitching staff has now shut out the Patriot offense for 15 consecutive innings while the WKU bats racked up 17 hits and 11 runs to claim the series victory for the second straight year over Dallas Baptist.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• Three runs scored for the Hilltoppers in the first inning. Camden Ross drove in two with an RBI single before Ethan Lizama scored on a wild pitch to give WKU a 3-0 lead.
• Ryan Wideman singled through the left side to add another in the second inning.
• An RBI double from Kyle Hayes in the third extended the Hilltopper lead to 5-0.
• Two more came across for WKU in the fifth with RBI singles from Lizama and Joe Siervo. That gave the Tops a 7-0 advantage.
• WKU plated four more in the sixth to push the lead to 11-0. Wideman brought one in with an RBI single before Ross was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. A Dallas Baptist balk scored Lizama in the next at-bat and an RBI single from Hayes put the 11th run on the board.

NOTABLES
• WKU moves to 27-4 (6-2 CUSA) on the season and 5-6 all-time against Dallas Baptist.
• The Hilltoppers have now beaten Dallas Baptist in two consecutive series.
• This marks the first series loss for the Patriots this season.
• The last time DBU was run-ruled was March 14, 2023, when they lost to #12 Oklahoma State 20-4 in seven innings.
• Dawson Hall made his second start on the mound this season and earned his fifth win of the year to move to 5-0. The Bowling Green, Ky. native posted 6.0 shutout innings with two strikeouts while allowing five hits and no walks. He lowered his ERA to 0.82.
• Zach Lyles saw an inning of action out of the bullpen. He surrendered just one hit in a scoreless frame.
• The WKU offense scored 11 runs on 17 hits and three walks with nine RBI.
• Ross and Wideman led the way with a combined six hits. Ross reached base four times in a 3-for-3 outing with three RBI and a run scored while Wideman was 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and three runs scored.
• Hayes was 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI and a walk.
• Lizama went 2-for-3 with an RBI and three runs scored.
• Siervo had one hit and one RBI.
• Carlos Vasquez had two hits and two runs scored.
• Drew Barragan was 2-for-2 off the bench with a run scored.

QUOTABLES
• "Dawson Hall, just throwing strikes. Just a tremendous outing. I joked with him that we had that 10th defender today, the wind. In all reality, they had the wind too when they were out on defense. We just hit more line drives. We just hit more balls on the ground through the infield. We did some good things. It's good to get the series win. It's a great statement for these guys. We'll see what we can do tomorrow." – Head Coach Marc Rardin on the series win.

UP NEXT
• WKU will go for the sweep over Dallas Baptist tomorrow afternoon at Horner Ballpark. First pitch is set for 1 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.