Head Coach Amy Tudor announced an eight-game slate for the fall season that features four home double-headers. All four opponents the Hilltoppers will face are non-Division I schools in the region.

WKU will begin the season Wednesday with a double-header against Volunteer State Community College.

After kicking off the fall season against Volunteer State, WKU will host Campbellsville University on Oct. 1. The Hilltoppers will then host Lindsey Wilson College on Oct. 18. The fall season will conclude with a double-header against Kentucky State University on Oct. 27. 

The doubleheaders against Volunteer State Community College, Lindsey Wilson College and Campbellsville University are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. CT. The final doubleheader against Kentucky State will begin at 12 p.m. CT.

WKU baseball is also preparing for a more abbreviated fall season that will feature three exhibition games.

Head Coach Marc Rardin and the Hilltoppers are coming off back-to-back successful seasons in which they won over 30 games each.

WKU will play three intriguing games in October in preparation for the 2025 season.

The schedule will begin with the Hilltoppers hosting Murray State on Oct. 6 at Nick Denes Field. Next, WKU will host Team Ontario on The Hill for a matchup on Oct. 8. 

Following the two home matchups, WKU will head to Nashville, Tennessee to face the 2024 National Champion Tennessee Volunteers on Oct. 25. The game will be played at First Horizon Park, home of the Milwaukee Brewers Triple-A affiliate Nashville Sounds.

Sports reporter Camden Bush can be reached at camden.bush770@topper.wku.edu

Senior left-handed pitcher Jacob Bimbi was the first Hilltopper off the board, selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 11th round with the 324th pick in the draft. Senior right-handed pitcher Mason Burns followed as he was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 14th round with the 411th overall  pick. Junior right-handed pitcher Grant Burleson was selected soon after in the 18th round, 553rd overall, by the Houston Astros.

Entering the draft the Hilltoppers had seen 59 players selected in the MLB Draft all-time. 

Head coach Marc Rardin has seen four players drafted during his first two years at WKU.

The 2024 draft marks the first time in 13 years WKU has had at least three players selected in the draft in one season.

Bimbi had an eventful college career before being drafted, transferring twice. Bimbi began his career at Wabash Valley Community College before transferring to Tennessee for his junior season. He then transferred to WKU for his senior year and had his best season yet. 

Bimbi made 14 starts and posted a 4-2 record with 72 strikeouts in 54.2 innings with a 6.09 ERA.

Burns began his career at Illinois State before transferring to WKU ahead of the 2023 season. He appeared in 51 games during his two years as a Hilltopper. The WKU closer finished the 2024 season with 15 saves, marking the most in a single season in program history. Burns struck out 52 batters in only 35 innings and walked only 13.

Burleson came to the Hilloppers for his junior season following a two-year stint at Columbia State Community College. In 2024, Burleson appeared in 20 games, making four starts on the season. He posted a 2-1 record and struck out 39 batters in 34.0 innings of work, walking only ten batters all year.

The Hilltoppers advanced to the Semifinals with wins over New Mexico State and FIU.

WKU’s two losses in the double elimination tournament came against FIU and Dallas Baptist.

The Hilltoppers defeated FIU 8-5 Friday evening to advance to face DBU Saturday.

WKU’s overall record on the 2024 season concluded at 37-22.

Head Coach Marc Rardin has brought winning seasons to WKU in each of his first two seasons, going 33-26 last season and 37-22 this season.

Dallas Baptist ended the Hilltoppers run in the C-USA tournament in both seasons.

WKU took an early lead in the contest with an RBI single in the first.

DBU quickly responded with an RBI double and an RBI groundout in the second inning to take a 2-1 lead.

Junior Ethan Lizama responded with a two-run homer to give WKU a 3-2 lead in the fourth.

Dallas Baptist proceeded to score four unanswered runs with two in the fourth, one in the fifth and one in the sixth.

Both teams scored one in the eighth as WKU launched a solo homer, making it 7-4.

Lizama launched another homer in the ninth, but WKU’s comeback effort fell short as DBU claimed a 7-5 victory.

Lizama closed his impressive season with an incredible performance. Despite the loss, Lizama recorded three hits, two of which were home runs.

The Hilltoppers will face FIU on May 24 at 4 p.m. CT in an elimination game.

The Hilltoppers have dropped three out of four on the season against FIU, including a loss in the first round of the tournament

The Aggies jumped out to an early lead in the game with a run in the second on an RBI double.

WKU quickly bounced back with a fielder’s choice RBI in the third to tie it at one.

The Hilltopper offense then exploded for four runs in the sixth on a pair of two-RBI singles.

WKU then expanded its lead to 8-1 in the eighth on a throwing error and a two-RBI single.

NMSU attempted to mount a comeback effort in the ninth, but fell short, scoring only one run and falling to WKU 8-2.

The Hilltoppers had a successful day at the plate, recording 13 hits as five different players recorded two hits.

The Hilltoppers will face the loser of New Mexico State and Dallas Baptist in their next contest.

WKU will take on the loser of that matchup May 23 at 9 a.m. CT in Ruston, Louisiana.

The Panthers victory over the Hilltoppers started the C-USA tournament with an upset as WKU entered the tournament as the three seed and FIU entered as the six seed.

WKU jumped out to an early lead in the contest, scoring two in the third on a wild pitch and an attempted double steal.

FIU responded with a two-run homer to tie it in the top of the fourth.

The Hilltoppers regained the lead in the fifth with an RBI groundout and an RBI single to make it 4-2.

The Panthers took their first lead of the game in the seventh with a solo homer followed by a two-run homer, making it 5-4.

FIU launched another two-run homer in the top of the ninth, expanding their lead to 7-4.

WKU attempted to rally in the ninth, scoring on an RBI double, but the attempt came up short as FIU held on for a 7-5 victory.

Junior Austin Haller had a strong day at the plate, recording three hits and scoring twice.

Despite the Panthers lower seed, FIU has fared well against WKU on the season, taking three out of four contests against the Hilltoppers.

WKU has fared better against both of their potential opponents as they took two out of three contests against both Dallas Baptist and New Mexico State this season. 

The Hilltoppers dropped the first game of the series before winning two straight to conclude the season.

WKU finished the season at 34-20 overall and 15-9 in Conference-USA play.

The Hilltoppers finished third in the C-USA standings and will face off against the six seed FIU Panthers in the first round of the C-USA tournament.

Game 1

WKU dropped the first game of a Thursday doubleheader 5-4.

NMSU jumped out to a big lead early with a solo homer in the first followed by a two-RBI single and an RBI double in the second to make it 4-0.

The Hilltoppers came all the way back to tie it with a sac fly in the bottom of the second, a two RBI single in the third and an RBI groundout in the fourth.

NMSU regained the lead in the seventh with an RBI single and held on for a 5-4 victory.

WKU recorded ten hits despite the loss. Three separate players recorded multi-hit days in the contest.

Game 2

WKU turned things around with an 11-9 victory in a back-and-forth victory in game two of the doubleheader.

The Hilltoppers took a 3-0 lead in the first with two RBI singles and a sac fly RBI.

The Aggies responded by scoring the next seven runs of the game with two in the second, two in the third and three in the fourth.

WKU cut the deficit with a two RBI single and an RBI single in the bottom of the fourth to make it 7-6.

NMSU added one in the fifth before WKU took the lead with three in the sixth on an RBI double, an RBI groundout and a bunt single RBI.

WKU added to its lead with an RBI double in the eighth, taking an 11-8 lead, and ultimately holding on to claim an 11-9 victory. 

Junior Eli Burwash helped lead the Hilltoppers to victory with three hits, two RBIs and two runs in the contest.

Game 3

WKU claimed the series Saturday, with a 6-2 victory.

The game started off slow as the only run through the first five innings came on an RBI double by NMSU in the first.

WKU got on the board with a three-run homer by junior Blake Cavill in the sixth inning to take a 3-1 lead.

NMSU scored on a double play in the seventh before WKU expanded its lead again in the bottom of the inning on an error, making it 4-2.

WKU claimed a 6-2 victory after a two-run homer in the eighth inning.

The Hilltoppers will look to begin the C-USA tournament with a win against the FIU Panthers May 22 in Ruston, Louisiana.

The three-game series sweep is the first the Hilltoppers have experienced all season. 

The sweep at the hands of LA Tech may prove to be a pivotal one in the Conference-USA standings for WKU as the Bulldogs now stand two games above the Hilltoppers.

WKU now sits at 32-19 on the season and 13-8 in C-USA play, putting them at third in the conference.

Game 1

WKU lost game one of the series Friday, in a back-and-forth, 9-7, contest.

The Hilltoppers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first with a two-run homer, but LA Tech erased the deficit in the bottom of the inning with two runs of their own.

WKU responded with five runs over the next five innings, scoring three in the second, one in the fifth and one in the sixth. 

LA Tech responded to the 7-3 deficit with a run in the bottom of the fifth, a run in the bottom of the sixth and four in the ninth to claim a 9-7 victory.

The Bulldogs claimed the win with a walk-off three-run homer.

Game 2

LA Tech claimed game two by a score of 12-2 in a seven-inning mercy rule.

WKU scored the first two runs of the game with individual runs in the first and third before the Bulldogs scored twelve unanswered.

LA Tech scored five runs in the third, four in the fourth and three in the fifth en route to victory. 

Game 3

Louisiana Tech claimed the sweep in commanding fashion Sunday, with a 7-1 victory.

WKU once again saw its only offense come early in the game with an RBI groundout in the first.

The Hilltoppers lead held into the seventh when LA Tech tied it with a solo homer.

The Bulldogs then won it with an eighth inning explosion, scoring six in the inning.

WKU has now lost five of its last six contests, with just one series remaining in the regular season.

The Hilltoppers will host New Mexico State University in the final weekend series matchup of the year, May 16-18 at Nick Denes Field.

The Hilltoppers defeated the Knights in what was ruled a mercy-rule after seven innings.

WKU now sits at 32-16 on the season as opposed to Bellarmine’s 7-41 record.

The win gives WKU a season sweep of the Knights, defeating them twice. 

The Hilltoppers jumped out to an early lead with an RBI single and an RBI double in the first inning to take a 2-0 lead.

Bellarmine attempted to fight back with a solo homer in the third, but the Hilltoppers responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning. WKU scored on an RBI single and a three-run homer in the inning.

WKU blew the game open in the fourth with four more runs on two RBI singles, an RBI double and a sac fly, making it 10-1.

The Hilltoppers added a run in the fifth on an RBI double and three in the sixth on an RBI groundout and a two RBI single.

Bellarmine scored once in the seventh but failed to extend the game as WKU won 14-2 via the mercy rule.

WKU saw four players deliver multiple hit games in the contest as the team recorded 13 hits  as a whole.

Junior Eli Burwash led the charge with four hits and three runs in the contest.

The Hilltoppers threw seven pitchers in the contest, each of which went one inning.

WKU will head to Ruston, Louisiana to take on Louisiana Tech in a three-game series May 10-12.

The Bulldogs and Hilltoppers were slated to play another game on Saturday, May 4, however it was canceled due to weather.

While WKU’s overall record dropped to 31-16 following the two losses to the Bulldogs, the Hilltoppers’ conference record was not affected. WKU’s 13-5 Conference-USA mark sets the Hilltoppers atop the C-USA ranks, a game ahead of 12-6 Dallas Baptist and Louisiana Tech. 

Game 1

WKU lost game one Friday, May 3, 3-2.

UNC Asheville put two on the board in the bottom of the first with a two-run homer. The Bulldogs added another in the fourth to go up 3-0.

Senior utility Jaylin Rae drove in the first Hilltopper run of the ball game with a sacrifice bunt. Junior infielder Blake Cavill drove in another run in the same frame with a groundout, making it 3-2.

Two runs is all the Hilltoppers scored as they fell to the Bulldogs in game one of the series. 

Game 2

WKU baseball dropped the second and final game of the series on Sunday, May 5, 2-1.

UNC Asheville capitalized on a Hilltopper error in the third making it 1-0 before WKU junior Ethan Lizama tied it up with a homer in the sixth.

The Bulldogs took control  with a homer in the bottom of the eighth that proved to be the deciding factor.

WKU had the tying run on third in the top of the ninth, but were unable to score. 

WKU will round up non-conference play in the regular season on Tuesday, May 7 against the Bellarmine Knights at 2 pm CT in Louisville.

MTSU defeated the Hilltoppers in the first game of the series, but WKU came out on top of the final two contests of the weekend. 

WKU now sits at 31-14 on the season and 13-5 in conference play. They sit just behind 11-4 Louisiana Tech in the C-USA standings.

Game 1

The Blue Raiders defeated WKU 16-9 Friday, in the first game of the series.

Scoring started early in the contest and went on through all nine innings. 

WKU managed to put up five runs in the first two innings with two in the first and three in the second. However, MTSU scored four in the first and six in the second to grab a 10-5 lead, through two.

The Hilltoppers attempted to fight back with two runs in the fourth on an RBI double and fielder’s choice and two in the fifth on two bases loaded walks.

MTSU responded with four runs in the sixth and two in the eighth to claim a 16-9 win.

Despite the loss, junior Austin Haller had a productive day at the plate with three hits and two runs scored.

Game 2

The Hilltoppers claimed a close victory Saturday in a 4-3 contest.

MTSU jumped out to a quick lead in the game with a two run and solo homer in the first to make it 3-0.

WKU responded with an RBI single in the third, followed by a solo homer and RBI double in the fifth tying it at three.

Sophomore Camden Ross then knocked in the game-winning run with an RBI double in the ninth, giving WKU a 4-3 victory.

Ross had a very productive day as he recorded two RBI doubles and scored a run.

Game 3

WKU claimed another series win Sunday with a 8-4 victory.

MTSU jumped out to another first inning lead with a solo homer, but WKU responded with a two-run homer in the second.

The Blue Raiders tied it in the third with a solo homer, before WKU took a 5-2 lead in the fourth with an RBI single and a two-RBI single.

MTSU cut the deficit with individual runs in the fifth and sixth before WKU scored individual runs in the seventh and eighth to claim a 7-4 victory.

Junior Blake Cavill had a strong outing in the contest, recording two hits and scoring twice.

WKU will head to Asheville, North Carolina to take on UNC Asheville May 3-5.