WKU Baseball Secures Series Win Over Southeast Missouri

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Baseball secured a 3-1 series victory over Southeast Missouri with a doubleheader split on Saturday, Feb. 21 at Nick Denes Field. The Hilltoppers fell to the Redhawks, 8-7, in game one before securing an 11-8 victory in game two to clinch the four-game weekend series and move to 5-3 overall.

Game One: SEMO 8, WKU 7

Southeast Missouri struck early with a two-run home run in the first inning, adding another two runs in the second to build a 4-0 lead. The Redhawks extended their margin to 7-0 in the top of the third.

WKU answered in the bottom half of the third, plating a run on a Lane Arroyos double to right center to make it 7-1.

After three quick outs in the top of the fourth, WKU erupted for five runs in the bottom of the frame. Reid Howard came home on an Austin Haller single to left before a sacrifice fly by Logan Luckett plated Ian Nguyen, narrowing the Tops’ deficit to four.

Arroyos singled to left center to drive in runs by Haller and Hayden Robbins, and JP Acosta singled to right center to plate Hayden Nazarenus, bringing the Tops to within one, 7-6, entering the fifth.

SEMO responded with a home run in the top of the fifth to push its lead back out to 8-6.

The Tops once again narrowed the deficit to one, 8-7, off an Acosta double down the right field line to drive in Nazarenus.

Despite rallying from a seven-run deficit, WKU left four runners on base in the final 3.5 innings and was unable to even the count late, falling 8-7.

Gage Olsen tossed 4.2 scoreless innings in relief, allowing just two hits with eight strikeouts.

Arroyos finished 2-for-5 with three RBIs. Acosta totaled two RBIs, Haller recorded two hits with one RBI, and Nazarenus scored three runs.

Game Two: WKU 11, SEMO 8

SEMO jumped in front early off a sacrifice bunt in the first before the Hilltoppers responded with three runs in the bottom half of the frame. Camden Ross doubled to right center to drive in runs by Arroyos and Acosta, giving the Tops a 3-2 lead entering the second.

In the bottom of the second, Kyle Hayes blasted a three-run home run to left center to give WKU an early 6-1 lead.

The Redhawks responded with a pair of runs in the next two innings before a Ross single plated Hayes, giving the Tops a 7-3 lead at the end of four.

An Arroyos single to right drove in runs by Kiefer Tarnoki and Haller, giving WKU a 9-3 advantage after five.

SEMO managed a five-run sixth inning to narrow the WKU lead to 9-8, but a groundout by Luckett to plate Ross and an RBI single by Haller gave WKU a three-run cushion, 11-8, entering the seventh inning.

Zach Lyles closed the final 2.0 innings without allowing a run to secure the victory.

With the win, WKU improved to 5-3 overall on the season.

Next Up

WKU travels for its first road contest of the season and opens midweek play at Kentucky on Tuesday, Feb. 24. First pitch from Kentucky Proud Park in Lexington is set for 3 p.m. CT with the game streaming live on SEC Network+.

Tickets for 2026 can be purchased here or by calling 1-800-5-BIG RED.

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.