WKU Baseball erased a six-run deficit and walked it off in the tenth inning Wednesday, beating New Mexico State 7-6 in the first round of the Conference USA Tournament.
After going hitless through the first four innings, the Hilltoppers began chipping away at the Aggie lead with two runs in the fifth and cut the score to one in the sixth with a bases-clearing double by senior Ethan Lizama. He tied the game with a solo home run in the eighth, then delivered the walk-off blow in the tenth with an RBI double. The Guam native finished 3-for-5 with five RBIs.
“When you start to see him not rolling over and swinging at some bad pitches down and in, when he’s taking those and hitting middle away like the way he is, he’s really, really tough,” Head Coach Marc Rardin said about Lizama.
WKU used five arms on the mound. Freshman Taylor Penn went 3.1 innings, allowing the Aggies five hits and four runs. Senior Patrick Morris relieved Penn in the fourth but was pulled without recording an out. Senior Gavin Perry followed and held NMSU to 3.2 scoreless innings.
“I thought Gavin Perry was a huge part for us putting up zeros, letting us get a chance to have some more ABs,” Rardin said.
The Aggies got out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first inning. Redshirt sophomore infielder Ben Forrester led off the inning with a triple. He was brought home from a sac fly by junior utility player Mitch Namie. The Hilltoppers went three-up three-down in the bottom frame.
NSMU added a run in the next inning, extending its lead to 2-0. Senior infielder Gianni Horvet started the inning with a single. Senior outfielder Austin Corbett was hit the next at-bat. Senior catcher Dane Woodcook brought home Horvet on a sac groundout. Senior left-handed pitcher Connor Wylde retired the WKU side in order in the bottom half of the second.
Freshman pitcher Taylor Penn left two Aggies on base after hitting his second batter of the game and conceding his first walk. Senior infielder Austin Haller walked to start the bottom of the third, giving the Hilltoppers their first runner. However, they couldn’t capitalize on it as senior outfielder Joe Siervo hit into a double play, ending the inning.
Senior left-hander Patrick Morris replaced Penn on the mound after the freshman gave up back-to-back singles in the fourth inning. Namie walked with bases loaded to bring in a run, followed by an RBI single from sophomore infielder Steve Solorazno. Freshman infielder Boston Vest brought home another run with an RBI single, giving the Aggies a 6-0 lead. In the bottom half of the inning, redshirt junior Carlos Vasquez lined out to Forrester, and Vest made a diving play on the third base line to get junior catcher Kyle Hvidsten out at first, retiring the Hilltopper side in order.
Senior pitcher Gavin Perry stranded two Aggie runners in the fifth inning. The Hilltoppers got on the board in the bottom frame. Senior infielder Kyle Hayes came home on a fielder’s choice with bases loaded. Siervo followed that with an RBI single to left field, bringing the score to 6-2.
Perry stranded another runner, putting a zero on the board for the Hilltoppers. The Hilltoppers brought the score to 6-5 thanks to a bases-clearing three-RBI double from Lizama.
The Aggies left bases loaded in the top of the seventh as Perry posted another zero-run inning. The Hilltoppers left the tying run on base after a lead-off double by Siervo, keeping the NSMU lead at 6-5.
NMSU batters went three-up, three-down for the first time in the eighth inning. Lizama hit a solo home run in the bottom half of the inning, tying the game 6-6.
The Aggies left two on base after senior Cal Higgins replaced senior Lucas Hartman following a leadoff walk from Corbett. The Hilltoppers went down in order at the bottom of the ninth, sending the 6-6 game to extra innings.
NSMU went three-up, three-down after a Horvat hit into a double play. The Hilltoppers walked the game off thanks to an RBI double from Lizama, giving WKU a 7-6 win.
WKU Baseball will face FIU in round two on Thursday, May 22. First pitch is set for 11:30 CT.
