HOW IT HAPPENED
- A two-out solo home run in the top of the first gave Kennesaw State the early lead.
- The Owls plated another run in the second on a two-out base hit through the right side to take a 2-0 lead.
- Kyle Hayes led off the Hilltopper second and cut the deficit in half with his ninth home run of 2026.
- A three-run fourth gave Kennesaw State a 5-1 lead.
- With Manny Alberto aboard via a base hit, Austin Haller lifted a ball down the right field line and out for his second home run of the season to make it a 5-3 game.
- The Owls got the two runs back with a home run over the wall in left center field for a 7-3 lead.
- With two out and on a 2-2 count, Lane Arroyos picked up his first hit of the game on a line drive home run down the right field line.
- Camden Ross followed and on the first pitch hit WKU's fourth home run of the game, this one a towering home run to left center, to get the two runs back and a two-run game at 7-5.
- The Owls loaded the bases in the eighth, and a base hit plated two and brought it back out to a four-run game.
- Haller logged a double into right center field, and Arroyos followed and logged his 21st double of the year to score Haller and make it 9-6.
NOTABLES
- With the loss, WKU falls to 24-21 on the year and 9-12 in CUSA play.
- Jacob O'Day started on the mound for the Hilltoppers on Sunday.
- Out of the bullpen WKU used Nathan Lawson, Ka'olu Holt, Gage Olsen, and Zach Lyles.
- Lane Arroyos paced the Hilltopper offense, finishing 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run.
- Arroyos now has 21 doubles which is tied-ninth for most in a single season in WKU history.Â
- Arroyos also logged his seventh home run of his Hilltopper career, a two-run home run in the seventh.
- Austin Haller had a 1-for-5 day with two RBIs and two runs. Haller hit his second home run of 2026, a solo home run down the right field line, marking the fifth of his WKU career.
- Camden Ross and Kyle Hayes also hit home runs on Sunday, both solo home runs.
- For Ross it marks his fifth in 2026 and the 10th in his collegiate career.
- Hayes now has 22 home runs in his WKU career and 10 this season alone.
- His 10 home runs this season are tied-seventh in CUSA.
- Manny Alberto tallied another two-hit day, finishing 2-for-4 with a run.
NEXT UP
The Hilltoppers will travel to Clarksville, Tenn. for a Tuesday game against Austin Peay. First pitch from Raymond C. Hand Park is set for 6 p.m. CT and will 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.
