WKU Baseball suffered its first Conference USA sweep of the season against Florida International University this weekend, April 25-27.
The Hilltoppers’ record dropped to 34-10 and 9-9 on the road. WKU dropped to fourth place in CUSA with an 11-7 record.
WKU starting pitchers had a rough weekend, earning 13 of FIU’s 16 runs.
The Hilltoppers left 30 runners on base compared to FIU, who only left 13. WKU was outhit by FIU 26-20 and outscored 16-10.
Game 1
WKU lost the series opener 3-1 on Friday.
FIU opened the scoring in the second inning with a sacrifice fly by graduate student Brendan Roney. The Panthers extended their lead in the fourth inning with a solo home run by senior Alex Ulloa. FIU added another run in the fifth inning off an RBI single from senior Javier Crespo, giving FIU a 3-0 lead.
The Hilltoppers’ only run of the game came in the seventh inning with an RBI single by junior Ryan Wideman, cutting FIU’s lead to 3-1.
Junior Jack Bennett threw five innings, allowing eight hits, zero walks, one strikeout and three runs, one of which was unearned.
Game 2
WKU dropped the second game of the series 6-4 on Saturday.
FIU got on the board first in the second inning with an RBI single by freshman Cole Cleveland.
WKU tied the game in the third inning with an RBI single by Wideman, tying the game 1-1.
The Panthers had an explosive five-run third inning. The rally started with an RBI single by redshirt senior Austin Dearing, followed by another RBI single by redshirt freshman Andrew Ildefonso. A three-run home run by Ulloa made the game 6-1.
The Hilltoppers got a run back in the fourth inning, off a solo run home run from senior Ethan Lizama. WKU added another run in the fifth inning from an RBI single by senior Kyle Hayes. The Hilltopper comeback came up just shy in the ninth inning following an RBI single by Lizama, ending the game 6-4.
Sophomore Drew Whalen was pulled early in the fifth inning after allowing eight hits, six runs, three walks and tallying six strikeouts. Senior Lucas Hartman pitched for 3.2 innings, holding the Panthers to one hit, zero walks and striking out three.
Game 3
WKU lost the series closer in a 7-5 10-inning clash Sunday.
The Hilltoppers got off to a quick start in the first inning after a throwing error from FIU, allowing Wideman and Lizama to cross home. WKU added another run in the third inning off an RBI by Wideman, giving the Hilltoppers a 3-0 lead.
FIU got two runs back in the fourth inning. The first run scored off a sac fly by Ildefonso, followed by a solo home run from Roney, cutting the Hilltopper lead to 3-2.
WKU extended its lead in the fifth inning off a sac fly from Lizama, giving it a 4-2 lead.
The Panthers tied the game in the bottom of the fifth. The first run of the inning came in off an RBI groundout from redshirt Adonys Velez. The tying run came home off a solo home run by senior Brylan West, tying the game 4-4.
The Hilltoppers got a run in the 10th inning off a home run by Lizama, giving WKU a 5-4 lead going into the bottom of the inning.
FIU walked the game off in the 10th inning with a three-run home run by redshirt senior Kishon Frett, giving the Panthers a 7-5 win.
Junior Dawson Hall pitched 4.2 innings and allowed five hits and four runs. Senior Gavin Perry came in for 1.1 innings and kept the Panthers to one hit.
WKU Baseball returns to Nick Denes Field Tuesday, April 29, for an in-state clash against the University of Kentucky.
Sports Reporter David Quintanilla can be reached at [email protected]
