LYNCHBURG, Va. – #2 WKU Baseball defeated #3 Kennesaw State 10-2 in the Conference USA Championship Semifinals on Saturday morning at Liberty Baseball Stadium.
Kyle Hvidsten blasted two home runs, Ryan Wideman hit a pivotal three-run shot and Ethan Lizama delivered the knockout blow with a solo homer as the Hilltoppers rolled past the Owls to secure their first CUSA Championship game appearance since joining the league in 2015.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Hvidsten got the Tops on the board early with a solo home run in the first inning.
• Kennesaw State answered with a solo shot of its own to tie the game at 1-1 in the third.
• The Owls took a 2-1 lead with an RBI single in the fourth.
• Carlos Vasquez gave WKU the lead with a two-RBI single in the bottom of the frame.
• A three-run homer from Wideman extended the advantage to 6-2 and broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth.
• Three more runs scored for the Tops in the seventh. Joe Siervo singled in a run before Hvidsten homered for the second time.
• Lizama put an exclamation point on the 10-2 victory with a solo homer in the eighth.
NOTABLES
• WKU improves to 3-0 in postseason play and 45-12 (18-9 CUSA) overall. 45 wins mark the second-most wins in a season in program history, trailing the 47-win 1980 squad.
• This marks the first CUSA Championship appearance for the Hilltoppers since joining the league in 2015 and the first conference title game appearance since WKU won the Sun Belt Tournament in 2008. The Hilltoppers are 3-2 in conference championship games.
• This is the first 3-0 postseason start for WKU since 2004 when the Hilltoppers won the Sun Belt Tournament for the first time in program history.
• Jack Bennett started on the bump. The right-hander tossed 5.0 quality innings, giving up a pair of runs on three hits and three walks while striking out two. He earned the win to improve to 7-1 on the season.
• Patrick Morris grabbed the first save of his career in an outstanding relief appearance. The southpaw hurled 3.2 shutout frames while allowing just two hits with a couple of strikeouts.
• The Tops offense scored 10 runs on 14 hits and seven free passes with 10 RBI.
• Hvidsten produced his second multi-homer game of the season in a 2-for-2 effort with three RBI, two runs scored and two walks.
• Wideman had three RBI in a 1-for-5 day with a three-run home run.
• Vasquez went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored.
• Lizama had a home run, going 1-for-4 with a run scored.
• Siervo had an RBI with two runs scored.
• Austin Haller had a trio of hits in a 3-for-4 performance with a run scored and a walk.
• Camden Ross went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
UP NEXT
• WKU heads to the CUSA Championship to face the winner of #4 Jax State and #1 Dallas Baptist on Sunday, May 25 at Liberty Baseball Stadium. First pitch is set for 12 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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