HOW IT HAPPENED
- FIU got on the board first with a pair of hits, the last plating the runner from first base. With a runner on third a groundball to JP Acosta was gloved but the runner scored from third to put the Panthers up 2-0.
- In the top of third the Panthers put runners on first and second but Aaron Robertson forced a pop fly to the shortstop and recorded his first strikeout to end the threat.
- In the bottom of the frame, Austin Haller laced his second single of the afternoon and Camden Ross and Lane Arroyos each followed with four-pitch walks to load the bases with no outs. Kyle Hayes then knocked one through the left side for his sixth RBI of the weekend to put the Hilltoppers on the board.
- Daniel Stewart grounded into a double-play but scored Ross from third to even the score at two apiece.
- Favela came in in the fourth and struck out his first two batters. The Panthers attempted their second steal but were denied for the second time by Ross to end the top half of the frame.
- In the top of the fifth FIU managed a walk and took a two-run lead with a home run into the right field bullpen.
- In the bottom half, Ross roped a ball into left center field and ended up at second with a standup double. Arroyos then drove him in with another double into the left field corner to make it a one run game.Â
- In the top of the sixth FIU put their first two batters on base with runners on first and second with no outs. Favela then recorded a strikeout and a flyout then Sam Frizzi came in and recorded the last out with a strikeout.
- Haller walked to lead off the seventh and Ross got aboard with a single into right field. Arroyos connected on a 1-0 pitch into right center field that scored Haller for an RBI double and a tie game at 4-4.
- Nathan Lawson entered to pitch for WKU in the eighth and after a one out base hit, Lawson recorded two strikeouts to end the top half of the inning.Â
- In the bottom of the 10th Hayes walked and Acosta was intentionally walked with one out to put runners on first and second. After a flyout, Manny Alberto came to the dish and a 2-1 count lifted one into left center field to score Kiefer Tarnoki from second and give WKU its second walk-off win in 2026.
NOTABLES
- With the win WKU improves to 11-8 (2-0 CUSA) on the year and 11-7 at Nick Denes Field.
- Aaron Robertson got the starting nod for the Hilltoppers on Saturday afternoon. He would finish with two earned runs on five hits in 3.0 innings of work.
- WKU used four relievers on Saturday in Jude Favela, Sam Frizzi, Dawson Hall, and Nathan Lawson.
- Lawson was credited with the win, throwing the final 3.0 innings and allowing just two hits, one walk, and two strikeouts in 13 batters faced.
- The win marks the second this season for Lawson who is now 2-0.
- Manny Alberto led the Hilltoppers going 2-for-5 with one RBI and a stolen base. His five at-bats were a season high.
- Alberto had the game winning walk-off RBI base hit in the bottom of the 10th inning to clinch the series for the Hilltoppers.
- Alberto's two hits marked a career high as a Hilltopper.
- His game-winning RBI was also the first for the redshirt-junior in a Hilltopper uniform.
- Lane Arroyos went 2-for-4 and knocked two RBIs to lead WKU in that front on Saturday.
- Austin Haller went 2-for-4, reaching on his first two plate appearances and scoring two runs, one being the game-tying run in the seventh inning.
- Camden Ross went 2-for-3 with two hits and two runs on Saturday.
- Ross also threw out two on the base paths on Saturday, matching a career high. The last being on May 3, 2024 at UNC Asheville.
- With the win WKU moves to 2-0 in CUSA play, marking the first time the Hilltoppers have started 2-0 in league play since 2019.
- WKU's last walk-off win prior to Saturday night was a 9-8 win in nine innings over LA Tech on May 3, 2025.
QUOTABLE
On the win, head coach Marc Rardin said "Care is important for us. There're 42 guys in that dugout and you can't tell who is on the active roster for the weekend and who isn't. That's being unselfish and having a care, more importantly than for the program but for each other and they're excited for each other. That strength and that care goes a long way."
NEXT UP
The Hilltoppers will wrap up the CUSA opening series with FIU on Sunday, March 15. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. Tickets for the game can be purchased HERE.
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.
