WKU President’s List (Fall 2020)
WKU Dean's List (Fall 2018, Fall 2019, Spring 2020)
2021 (Redshirt Junior): Appeared in nine games while marking three starts on the mound … Struck out 10 batters in 10.2 innings of work while posting a 16.88 ERA … Pitched 2.0 innings while recording three strikeouts in WKU’s win over Tulane (3/7) … Recorded two strikeouts in just 1.0 inning of work against Florida Atlantic (5/8).
*2020 (Redshirt Junior): Started four games on the mound for the Hilltoppers … Went 2-1 with a 4.82 ERA while recording 23 strikeouts in 18.2 innings … Tied for first on the team in wins while ranking second in both strikeouts and innings pitched … Ranked second on the squad with two five-plus inning starts … Held opponents to a .227 batting average … Racked up a career-high nine strikeouts in 5.0 frames against Purdue (3/6) … Tossed 5.0 innings of scoreless ball while whiffing eight batters and allowing just one hit against Valpo (2/15).
2019 (Junior): Missed season due to injury.
2018 (Sophomore): Led WKU with a 12.9 K/9 rate (31 strikeouts in 21.1 innings), ranking fifth on the pitching staff with 20 appearances ... Hicks was 1-of-2 Hilltoppers to not allow a homerun ... Started out the season with 10 strikeouts in 5.1 scoreless innings in his first 4 appearances, earning a win on Feb. 20 vs. Belmont ... Overall, had multi-strikeout performances in 11-of-20 outings and scoreless appearances in 14-of-20 ... In Conference USA action, posted a 2.16 ERA across 8 games with 12 strikeouts in 8.1 innings pitched ... Did not allow an extra-base hit against league competition and held C-USA hitters to a .219 batting average.
2017 (Freshman): Hicks was one of the promising young arms on the mound for the Hilltoppers, making 3 starts and 17 appearances out of the bullpen ... After throwing 3.1 innings vs. Jacksonville State on Feb. 26 with zero earned runs and a career-high 3 strikeouts, earned back-to-back Sunday starts in the next 2 weekends ... Pitched 7.1 innings in those 2 outings combined, giving up 4 runs vs. Ohio (March 5) and Illinois State (March 12) ... Had multiple strikeouts in 5-of-8 relief appearances from March 19-April 19 ... Capped the year with scoreless appearances in 3 of his last 4 games.
At South Warren HS: Struck out 92 hitters in 82.2 innings, going 9-4 with a 1.44 ERA for the Spartans as a senior ... Earned All-State Second Team, All-Region and All-District honors ... Was a 4-year letter winner on the diamond, as well as a 2-year letter winner on the basketball court.
Personal Info: Born November 13, 1997 in Parkersburg, W.Va. ... Son of Rose Frank and Bart Darrell ... His father is the 34th President of Kentucky Wesleyan College ... His mother played basketball at Marshall University, while his brother (Matt Taitt) was a thrower on the WKU track and field team ... Studying Sport Management at WKU ... Favorite athlete is Kobe Bryant because he was a great competitor ... Chose WKU because it is in his hometown, while having a great program (coaches and facilities) and atmosphere ... Plans to be an athletic director or coach baseball after his playing days are over ... His mother and brother have had the biggest influence on his athletic career because they pushed and supported him ... Favorite WKU player growing up was Courtney Lee.
* The 2020 season did not count against athletic eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
