BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – #25 WKU Baseball defeated Southern Indiana 13-9 on Tuesday night at Nick Denes Field.
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The Hilltoppers used an 11-run fourth inning to blow the game open early and cruise to the victory. With the win, WKU moves to 22-0 at home for the first time in program history.
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This marks the first time the Hilltoppers have scored 11 or more runs in a single frame since April 20, 2010, when WKU posted 16 runs in the second inning of a 24-8 waxing of Kentucky at Bowling Green Ballpark.
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HOW IT HAPPENED
• Carlos Vasquez squared up the first pitch he saw and sent it over the left center wall to give the Tops a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
• 11 runs scored for WKU in the fourth. Kyle Hayes started it off by putting it in play with the bases loaded to score the first run of the inning. Following that, a Screaming Eagle error allowed two more to come across. Back-to-back singles from Austin Haller and Ethan Lizama scored a combined three runs to keep the rally going. Ryan Wideman followed that up with an RBI double before Thomas Marsala tripled to score two more. Camden Ross used a sacrifice fly to score another and Drew Barragan got into the action with an RBI single to cap the scoring and extend the Hilltopper lead to 12-0.
• A couple of WKU errors allowed USI to score four in the top of the sixth and cut the Screaming Eagles deficit to 12-4.
• Three more runs scored for Southern Indiana in the seventh on a Hilltopper balk and a two-RBI double.
• Caleb Niehaus scored on a USI throwing error in the bottom of the seventh.
• The Screaming Eagles scored twice in the eighth inning to cut the WKU lead to 13-9, but it wouldn't be enough as WKU closed it down to finish off the win.
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NOTABLES
• WKU moves to 28-5 (6-3 CUSA) on the season and 12-3 all-time against Southern Indiana.
• The Hilltoppers have now beaten the Screaming Eagles seven consecutive times dating back to 1982.
• 22 of the Tops' 28 wins have come at Nick Denes Field. This is the first time the Hilltoppers have started 22-0 at home in program history.Â
• The Tops scored 11 times in the fourth inning – the most runs they've scored in a single inning this season and the most since 2010.
• Gavin Perry got the starting nod on the mound and tossed 4.0 shutout innings. The right-hander surrendered just one hit and struck out a career-high four batters on his way to his second win of the season to move to 2-1.
• Patrick Morris, Luke Wright, Lucas Litteral, Zach Lyles, Evan Jones and Cal Higgins made appearances out of the bullpen. Morris retired the side in his only frame of action while Higgins closed things down in the ninth with a three up, three down inning.
• Four of the nine USI runs were unearned.
• The WKU offense scored 13 runs on eight hits and five walks with 11 RBI.
• All nine starters recording an RBI in the game with Lizama and Marsala leading the way with two apiece.
• Barragan had the only multi-hit performance in a 2-for-4 outing.
• Vasquez hit his second homer of the season on the first pitch he saw – the only big fly of the night for WKU.
•  Marsala had the only triple of the night while Wideman and Hayes had a double each.
• Niehaus stole three bags while Wideman stole two. Wideman is up to a CUSA-leading 27 stolen bases. He is now tied for the fifth-most stolen bases in a single-season in program history with Mike Murray (1979).
• Vasquez, Wideman and Hayes each scored twice.
• 22 different players saw action in the game for the Hilltoppers.
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UP NEXT
• WKU will play its second consecutive series on the road this weekend as they head to Lynchburg, Va. to play CUSA foe Liberty. First pitch on Friday, April 11 is set 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.
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