Hilltopper baseball sweeps Friday doubleheader against SEMO

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Baseball secured a doubleheader sweep of Southeast Missouri on Friday, Feb. 20 at Nick Denes Field, taking game one, 12-4, before securing a 4-2 victory in game two. The Hilltoppers take a 2-0 lead in the four-game weekend series with the Redhawks and improve to 4-2 overall with the wins.

GAME ONE

WKU 12, SEMO 4

• SEMO plated three runs in the second, loading the bases and capitalizing on a sacrifice groundout to score first.
• WKU answered in the bottom half, narrowing the deficit on an RBI single from Ian Nguyen to drive in Austin Haller and JP Acosta.
• A Lane Arroyos double down the left field line drove in Nguyen and Hayden Nazarenus and gave the Tops a 5-3 advantage entering the third.
• The Redhawks responded with an RBI single to cut the Hilltopper lead to 5-4 in the top third.
• After scoreless fourth and fifth innings, WKU broke the game open with a six-run sixth inning to take an 11-4 lead; Daniel Stewart registered an RBI single to plate Nguyen, Camden Ross and Reid Howard followed with RBI singles and Kyle Hayes delivered a two-RBI pinch-hit single, later scoring on a caught stealing.
• Kiefer Tarnoki scored on a wild pitch in the seventh to add to the Hilltopper lead and wrap a 12-4 victory in game one.
• Arroyos paced the Tops’ offense with a 3-for-5 effort, including two doubles and two RBIs.
• Ross went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, and Nguyen finished 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored.
• Haller tallied two hits, contributing to the team’s 16 total hits on the day.
• Gavin Perry started and went 4.1 innings, allowing four runs while striking out three.
• Mick Uebelhor earned the win with 3.2 scoreless innings of relief, allowing just two hits and striking out two; Dawson Hall closed the final frame with two strikeouts.

GAME TWO

WKU 4, SEMO 2

• WKU struck first in the opening frame as Stewart doubled to right center to plate Arroyos for a 1-0 lead
• SEMO answered with a pair of runs in the third before the Hilltoppers tied the contest in the fourth off an RBI single from Haller to drive in Howard
• The count remained even at 2-2 until Acosta doubled to right center and later scored on an RBI single from Tarnoki
• Howard delivered an insurance run with an RBI double to left center, driving in Nazarenus and giving WKU a 4-2 lead in the eighth
• Left-hander Zach Lyles recorded a scoreless ninth to close the game and secure a 4-2 victory in the Tops’ favor
• Aaron Robertson turned in a strong start, tossing 6.0 innings with seven strikeouts while allowing two runs; Robertson currently holds a 1.80 ERA with 14 strikeouts through 10.0 innings pitched on the season
• Jude Favela earned the win with 2.0 scoreless innings out of the bullpen
• Howard finished 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI; Haller went 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI, while Tarnoki added two hits and an RBI

NEXT UP

WKU wraps its weekend series facing SEMO with a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 21 at Nick Denes Field. Game one of Saturday’s doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m. CT with game two following at 4:30 p.m.