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The Hilltoppers are crowned champions of CUSA for the first time in program history and punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
Source: Conference USA
Photo: Courtesy
The Hilltoppers started their Conference USA tournament with an extra-inning win over New Mexico State. Their tournament opener delivered the first half of a one-two punch sending the Aggies back to Las Cruces. Eventually, Western Kentucky powered their way to the Championship game against a Jax State team who had just topped top-seed Dallas Baptist in consecutive matches.
For Western Kentucky, their tournament ended as it began–a walk off win in extra innings.
Related: Baseball: Aggies Fall in Extra-Inning Heartbreaker to WKU
LYNCHBURG, Va. – No. 2 WKU defeated No. 4 Jax State 6-5 in 11 innings to take the 2025 CUSA Championship title from Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium. The Hilltoppers are crowned champions of CUSA for the first time in program history and punched their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
Joe Siervo was the hero for the Hilltoppers as he ripped a walk-off single to center field with two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning. The WKU nine-hole hitter finished the afternoon with two of the biggest swings in WKU history. In the bottom of the seventh with two outs, Siervo cleared the wall in left field for a go-ahead two-run shot, giving the Tops their first lead of the game. He finished the day with three RBI and a 2-4 effort.
Lucas Hartman and Cal Higgins combined for 7.2 innings of relief work and holding the Gamecocks to just one run on five hits with seven strikeouts. Higgins tossed the final 4.0 frames and earned his third win of the season.
Ethan Lizama named the Russell D. Anderson Most Valuable Player after hitting .389 with three home runs and seven RBI. The senior right fielder carried WKU to victory over NM State in their tournament opener. Lizama went 3-5 with two doubles, a career-high five RBI and a walk-off winner.
WKU and DBU will await their regional matchups. The selection show will be aired live on ESNP2 on Monday, May 26 at 11 a.m. CT.
Russell D. Anderson MVP
Ethan Lizama, OF, WKU
All-Tournament Team
C: Grayson Ashe, Jax State
INF: Chayton Krauss, DBU
INF: Cooper Blauser, Jax State
INF: Austin Haller, WKU
INF: Carlos Vasquez, WKU
OF: Drew Collins, Jax State
OF: Ethan Lizama, WKU
OF: Ryan Wideman, WKU
DH: Donovan Cash, Kennesaw State
P: James Ellwanger, DBU
P: Smith Pinson, Kennesaw State
P: Karson Bonaparte, Jax State
P: Jackson Phipps, Jax State
