Hilltoppers Complete Sweep of New Mexico State with Another Four-Homer Day

Sunday, May 11

Las Cruces, N.M.

12:00 PM CT

Western Kentucky University

41-10, 17-7

New Mexico State

22-29, 10-13

WKU

NM State

Hilltoppers Complete Sweep of New Mexico State with Another Four-Homer Day

5/11/2025 5:00:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)

LAS CRUCES, N.M. – WKU Baseball defeated New Mexico State 11-5 to sweep the series on Sunday afternoon at Presley Askew Field.

The Hilltoppers powered their way to a record-tying 41st regular-season win, capping a dominant weekend with another victory over the Aggies. Fueled by four home runs and a six-run sixth inning, WKU became the first team to sweep the Aggies in a three-game series this season and clinched a top-three seed in the upcoming CUSA Tournament.

HOW IT HAPPENED
• The Aggies got on the board first with a solo shot in the second.
• Austin Haller evened the score at 1-1 with a solo homer of his own in the top of the third.
• An RBI single put New Mexico State back in front in the third.
• A solo big fly from Carlos Vasquez knotted the game at 2-2 in the fourth.
• The Hilltoppers put up six runs in the sixth frame. Kyle Hayes put WKU in front with a two-run homer before Haller tacked on another with an RBI single. Dalton Fiveash had a bases-clearing double to extend the Tops lead to 8-2.
• A hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded and an RBI groundout plated two more for the Aggies in the bottom of the frame.
• Ethan Lizama grounded out to drive in a run in the seventh to make the score 9-4.
• A sacrifice fly from Ryan Wideman added another run to the WKU advantage in the eighth.
• NM State used a sacrifice fly of their own to cut its deficit to 10-5 in the bottom of the inning.
• A solo long ball from Lizama put the finishing touches on a 11-5 win for WKU in the ninth.

NOTABLES
• WKU moves to 41-10 (17-7 CUSA) on the season and 11-13 all-time against New Mexico State (22-29, 10-13 CUSA).
• The Hilltoppers' 41 wins tie the program record for most wins in a regular season. They join the, 1980, 1985 and 1988 squads.
• WKU is the first team to sweep the Aggies in a three-game series this season.
• With the win today and a win from Louisiana Tech, the Hilltoppers have officially clinched a top-three seed in the CUSA Tournament.
• Taylor Penn made his first start in CUSA play on the mound. The freshman went 3.0 frames, allowing two runs on four hits with two strikeouts.
• Gavin Perry, Treyson Peters, Cal Higgins and Patrick Morris saw action in relief. Perry tossed 2.0 shutout innings with two strikeouts, surrendering two hits and two walks. Higgins went 3.0 frames, allowed one unearned run on two hits and struck out a pair. Morris closed it down with two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning.
• The WKU offense produced 11 runs on nine hits and nine free passes with 11 RBI.
• Four Hilltoppers left the yard in the finale, marking 13 total homers combined in the series. Haller hit it out for the third consecutive game, Hayes hit his second in as many days while Vasquez and Lizama each homered for a second time this weekend.
• Fiveash led the team with three RBI, going 1-for-3 day with a double and a walk.
• Lizama went 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored.
• Haller was 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI, two runs scored and a walk.
• Hayes went 1-for-5 with two RBI, a homer and a run scored.
• Vasquez scored twice in a 1-for-4 day with a home run, an RBI and a walk.
• Wideman had an RBI with a run scored, a walk and two stolen bases. He is up to 39 steals on the season, just two shy of tying the single-season record of 41 set by Carlos Akins in 1995.

UP NEXT
• WKU concludes the regular season with a three-game series against Jax State at home. First pitch from Nick Denes Field on Thursday, May 15 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.