WKU Baseball opened Conference USA play with a decisive 15-4 victory over FIU on March 13 at Nick Denes Field. The Hilltoppers scored a season-high 15 runs on 13 hits, including four home runs, and ended the game after seven innings due to the run rule.
The win is significant as it marks WKU’s first Conference USA opener victory since the 2022 season and sets a strong tone for their conference campaign. Camden Ross tied a single-game program record by scoring five runs, while Kyle Hayes led with three hits and five RBIs.
Gavin Perry started on the mound for WKU, pitching 4.2 innings with a career-high seven strikeouts to earn his second win of the season. Mick Uebelhor closed out the game as the lone reliever, striking out six batters in 2.1 innings without allowing a hit and earning his first save. Uebelhor’s seven total strikeouts surpassed his previous best set earlier in March.
Ross went two-for-two at the plate with two walks and five runs scored, matching records previously set by Jake Sanford in 2019 and Austin Haller in 2025. Hayes matched his career-best three hits and became the first Hilltopper to drive in five RBIs since Ethan Lizama did so during last year’s CUSA Tournament. Haller contributed his first home run at Nick Denes Field and stole two bases, tying both season and career highs.
Head Coach Marc Rardin said about the pitching performance: “Gavin and Mick have been a dynamic duo on Fridays. Beating Power-Four opponents throughout these first four weekends and doing a good job against them prepared them to perform well tonight.” On the offensive effort, Rardin said: “Offensively, we took the freebies, extended innings, extended at bats, didn’t chase a lot, and did a really good job working the middle and working away with our approach and ended up having some good at bats.”
The Hilltoppers will continue their series against FIU with game two scheduled for Saturday, March 14.
