The Hilltoppers finished with nine runs on 14 hits Friday and were offensively led by Camden Ross and Austin Haller who both had three hit games. Haller added two runs and an RBI while Ross tallied two RBIs and a run.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- With a runner on third an infield single gave the Owls a 1-0 lead with two out in the first.
- In the WKU first Austin Haller reached on an infield single and moved his way into scoring position on a failed pick-off attempt. Then Lane Arroyos tallied his 19th double of the season to drive in Haller and even the score.
- Camden Ross followed with a single to move Arroyos over to third. Then on a wild pitch, Arroyos and the Hilltoppers took the lead.
- In the Owl second, a lead-off home run evened the score at two.
- A lead-off walk from Dalton Fiveash and a single off the bat of Manny Alberto gave Haller a chance with runners in the corners.
- On a 1-2 pitch, Haller singled up the middle to take the lead back.
- With two on and two outs in the inning, Ross notched his second hit of the game to clear the bases and give the Hilltoppers a three run lead at 5-2.
- A three run third for Kennesaw State tied the game again.
- With Fiveash on in the bottom half of the inning Manny Alberto laced a ball into the alley in right center field for a triple to score Fiveash and take back the lead.
- A wild pitch on the next at bat scored Alberto for a two-run WKU advantage.
- A solo home run off the bat of Kyle Hayes in the fourth made it an 8-5 game.
- The Owls evened the score again in their half of the fifth for an 8-8 tie.
- A one out double into the gap in left center by Ross kicked off the offense for WKU in the sixth inning. Parker Coley walked and on a 1-0 count Daniel Stewart poked one through the left side to score Ross and take the lead back, 9-8.
NOTABLES
- With the win, WKU improves to 23-20 on the year and 8-11 in CUSA play.
- The all-time series between the Hilltoppers and Owls is now 3-2 in favor of WKU.
- Aaron Robertson started for the Hilltoppers on Friday.
- In relief the Hilltoppers used Trey Reinburg, Zack Serup, Jude Favela, Mick Uebelhor, and Sam Frizzi.
- Jude Favela was credited with the win, tossing 1.0 scoreless inning, allowing one hit and recording a strikeout.
- Uebelhor had a team high innings worked and strikeouts. He finished with five strikeouts and just one hit in 2.2 innings of work.
- Austin Haller paced the Hilltopper offense on Friday, going 3-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.
- Friday marked the fifth three-hit game for Haller in 2026. Four of the five have come in CUSA play.
- Camden Ross also had a three hit day, finishing 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run.
- Ross has now managed a dozen multi-hit games this season, marking his second in his last three games.
- Manny Alberto had another multi-hit game with a 2-for-3 day with a run and an RBI.
- Alberto has had a multi-hit game in six CUSA contests this season.
- Dalton Fiveash started at third base on Friday and finished up 1-for-3 with two runs.
- The two runs for Fiveash mark a career best.
- Kyle Hayes hit his ninth home run of 2026 and finished 1-for-2 with a run and an RBI.
- Friday was the 20th time this season the Hilltoppers have garnered 10 or more hits. WKU has now done so in each of the last six games.
QUOTABLE
On players stepping up, head coach Marc Rardin said "What's good when you've got a strong culture team is anybody on any given night can step up for you and we needed it tonight, good job by Camden Ross and Kyle Hayes providing that for us."
NEXT UP
The Hilltoppers will host Kennesaw State for game two of the series on Saturday, April 25. First pitch from Nick Denes Field is set for 4 p.m. CT and is set to be streamed on ESPN+ with audio on the Varsity Network.
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.
