Tops cut down Sycamores 7-4 to take series
Published 11:55 pm Sunday, March 8, 2026
Western Kentucky senior Camden Ross celebrates during the Hilltoppers’ 7-4 win against Indiana State on Sunday at Nick Denes Field. (WKU ATHLETICS)
Western Kentucky claimed a series win against Indiana State with a 7-4 victory Sunday afternoon at Nick Denes Field.
Parker Coley and Camden Ross led the Hilltoppers offensively, driving in three runs apiece. Coley has now driven in a run in each of his last four games.
Three pitchers in Zack Serup, Nathan Lawson and Jude Favela combined for nine strikeouts and only one walk.
After a scoreless first two innings, Daniel Stewart recorded WKU’s hit of the game with a home run to left field to give WKU a 1-0 lead.
Indiana State evened the score in the top half of the fourth on a one out RBI groundout.
In the bottom of the inning, Lane Arroyos walked and Kyle Hayes advanced him to second on a sacrifice bunt. Camden Ross came to the plate and launched a 3-1 pitch over the left field wall to put WKU up 3-1.
Indiana State tied the game at three with an RBI single in the top of the sixth followed by a double down the left-field line.
In the bottom of the seventh WKU loaded the bases and walked in a run after Ross was hit by the pitch.
Parker Coley followed in the order and lifted a bases clearing double into the left field corner to give WKU a four-run lead.
“On the offensive side he’s one of our pillars that holds us up,” WKU coach Marc Rardin said of Coley. “He has a motor, he competes, and you want him up in those spots like his two-out double today.”
Indiana State struck a home run to left field in the top of the ninth, but the Hilltoppers would close out the final out for a 7-4 win to take the weekend series over the Sycamores.
With the win WKU improves to 9-8 on the year and 9-7 at Nick Denes Field.
Serup got the starting nod for WKU on Sunday. He struck out four of his first six batters faced and finished with four strikeouts and just one hit in three innings of work. Lawson tossed three innings, allowing three runs on six hits and struck out two of his 15 batters faced. Favela was credited with the win on Sunday, going three innings, allowing one run on two hits and three strikeouts. With the win Favela improves to 2-0 on the year. WKU pitchers only allowed one walk on Sunday afternoon.
As a team the Hilltoppers scored seven runs on eight hits. Two of WKU’s eight hits were home runs. Seven different Hilltoppers combined for WKU’s eight hits Sunday.
Ross went 1-for-3 with three RBIs. Two of his three RBIs came on his home run in the fourth inning.
Coley finished the day going 1-for-4 with three RBIs. All three of Coley’s RBIs were scored on a bases-clearing double in the seventh that gave WKU a 7-3 lead. Coley has now recorded at least one hit and one RBI in four straight games. Coley has also posted an extra base hit in each of his last two games.
Reid Howard managed another two-hit day, going 2-for-4. Sunday marks back-back, multi-hit games for Howard. The sophomore now has four on the year. Both of Howard’s hits on Sunday were doubles, marking the first time such a feat has been achieved in his career.
Stewart powered WKU’s first home run of the afternoon over the left-field fence. He would finish the afternoon going 1-for-4 with one RBI.
WKU now has three multi home run games this season.
The Hilltoppers will host EKU on Wednesday in a midweek matchup. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
