The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers are back in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2009, and they’re riding a wave of momentum into the Oxford Regional. The Hilltoppers (46-12, 18-9 CUSA) will take on No. 2 seed Georgia Tech on Friday, May 30, 2025, at Swayze Field, looking to continue a historic season that already includes their first Conference USA Championship and a program-record-tying 46 wins. First pitch time was not specified in the regional schedule, but fans can follow along via WKU’s official athletic social media channels.
A Season for the Record Books
WKU punched their ticket to Oxford with a flawless 4-0 run through the Conference USA Tournament, capped by their first CUSA title in program history and their first conference tournament crown since 2008. The Hilltoppers’ path to the championship was nothing short of dramatic—three of their four wins came via walk-off hits. Outfielder Ethan Lizama set the tone in the opener against New Mexico State, delivering a 7-6 walk-off RBI double in the 10th inning while racking up a career-high five RBI, including a three-RBI double and a game-tying homer. Carlos Vasquez played hero in the second round, launching a 7-6 walk-off homer against FIU in the ninth. In the championship game, Joe Siervo sealed a 6-5 win over Jax State with an 11th-inning RBI single, his second clutch hit of the game after a two-run homer in the eighth.
Lizama earned Russell D. Anderson CUSA Championship MVP honors and was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Vasquez, Ryan Wideman, and Austin Haller. With 46 wins, WKU is one victory shy of tying the 1980 squad’s program record of 47, a mark they could match—or break—with a strong showing in Oxford.
“We’ve proven all year that we can win games we were supposed to win, and in the tournament, we showed we can play from behind in big moments,” pitcher Drew Whalen said. “It speaks to the character of this team and how we’ve grown.”
Dominance at Home and on the Mound
The Hilltoppers have been unbeatable at Nick Denes Field, posting a program-record 30 wins at home this season, surpassing the previous mark of 27 set by the 1988, 2002, and 2009 teams. On the mound, WKU’s pitching staff has been a force, boasting a 3.35 ERA that ranks third nationally—trailing only Northeastern and Coastal Carolina as one of three teams with a sub-3.40 ERA. For the second straight year, Hilltopper pitchers broke the single-season strikeout record, sitting at 496 strikeouts and on the cusp of the program’s first 500-strikeout season.
Offensively, WKU leads CUSA with a .315 batting average and a program-record 126 stolen bases, both of which rank in the top 25 nationally. The Tops’ speed and power have made them a nightmare for opponents all season.
Awards Galore
WKU cleaned up in the CUSA postseason awards, with Ryan Wideman earning CUSA Player and Newcomer of the Year, Drew Whalen taking Pitcher of the Year, head coach Marc Rardin being named Keith LeClair CUSA Coach of the Year, and Dillon Napoleon securing Assistant Coach of the Year honors. Nine Hilltoppers made the All-CUSA Teams: Wideman, Whalen, and Lucas Hartman on the first team; Vasquez, Kyle Hayes, Jack Bennett, and Cal Higgins on the second team; and Reid Howard and Taylor Penn on the All-Freshman squad.
“It just means a lot to us,” Higgins said of the regional berth. “Coming here three years ago, the year prior they had 18 wins, and now we have 46. The whole Bowling Green area is proud of us.”
Scouting Georgia Tech
WKU faces a familiar foe in Georgia Tech, with the Yellow Jackets leading the all-time series 5-1 since their first meeting in 1982. Georgia Tech has won four of the last five matchups, though the teams haven’t met since 1997. This marks their first postseason clash, adding extra stakes to Friday’s showdown.
“The excitement’s there—the appreciation of it all,” Rardin said. “Our guys believe they’ve earned this, and I believe they’ve earned it as well. We’re ready to get down there and show some people what we’ve got.”
Regional History and Outlook
This is WKU’s fifth NCAA Regional appearance (1980, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2025) and their third trip to the Oxford Regional (2004, 2009). The Hilltoppers are 6-8 all-time in regional play, with notable wins over Vanderbilt, New Orleans, Ole Miss (twice), and Missouri (twice). Their deepest run came in 2009, when they were one win away from a Super Regional berth, forcing a winner-take-all final after a 10-9 victory over No. 8 Ole Miss before falling 4-1 the next day.
“It’s a dream come true,” Wideman said. “Winning Conference USA was our goal all season, and now we’re excited to keep playing.”
The Big Picture
WKU enters the Oxford Regional as a team firing on all cylinders. With a dominant pitching staff, a record-setting offense, and a knack for clutch performances, the Hilltoppers have the tools to make a deep run. A win over Georgia Tech would set up a favorable path in the double-elimination format, potentially bringing them closer to their first Super Regional in program history. Bowling Green will be watching closely as the Tops look to add another chapter to their historic 2025 campaign.
