{"id":20697,"date":"2026-04-11T15:24:28","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T15:24:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/?p=20697"},"modified":"2026-04-11T15:26:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T15:26:32","slug":"hilltoppers-strike-first-robertson-uebelhor-guide-wku-to-7-4-victory-over-new-mexico-state","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/?p=20697","title":{"rendered":"HILLTOPPERS STRIKE FIRST\/Robertson, Uebelhor guide WKU to 7-4 victory over New Mexico State"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
WKU’s MICK UEBELHOR DOMINATED
NSMU OVER THE FINAL 4 2\/3 INNINGS,
RECORDING SEVEN STRIKEOUTS.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WKU COACH MARC RARDIN: ‘TWO-OUT HITS WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS …’<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You could see it, the looks on their faces in the Western Kentucky dugout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hilltoppers were having fun playing baseball again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As fourth-year head coach Marc Rardin observed, in last weekend’s disastrous three-game series against Liberty University, “Baseball’s rough. It starts between the ears …”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hilltoppers were able to start strong, and get it finished, in Game One of their do-or-die Conference USA series against New Mexico State on Friday night. They couldn’t afford to fade any more, in the C-USA standings, midway through conference play. Getting swept, at home, by a talented Liberty squad was a sobering moment, particularly after the Tops failed to protect a 5-0 lead in the top of the ninth inning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Except …<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They returned to practice on Monday, and persevered through a 9-8 victory over visiting Belmont University at WKU’s Nick Denes Field. They went back to work on Thursday, to get ready for New Mexico State, and they understood what was in front of them …<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Game One was a case in point Friday night. WKU left-hander Aaron Robertson limited the Aggies to one run through the first four innings before faltering in the fifth. But then junior right-hander Mick Uebelhor trotted in from the WKU bullpen, got the Tops out of the fifth-inning jam, and Rardin’s squad never looked back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Western Kentucky 7, New Mexico State 4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
WKU’s MICK UEBELHORS STRIKES OUT
NMSU CATCHER BRANDON CHIZBE
TO END FRIDAY NIGHT’s GAME.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
WESTERN KENTUCKY SCORED
FOUR OF ITS SEVEN RUNS WITH TWO OUTS.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
WKU LEFT-HANDER NATHAN ROBERTSON
TOOK THE TOPS INTO THE FIFTH INNINGS.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
RANDY LEE, ‘THE VOICE OF THE HILLTOPPERS,’
INTERVIEWS WKU COACH MARC RARDIN
AFTER THEIR 7-4 WIN OVER NEW MEXICO STATE.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We stayed engaged, in the dugout,” Rardin said when it was over. “There was plenty of energy. I wanted to encourage our guys … We had ‘the juice.’<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Juice-ful is useful, juiceless is useless.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Hilltoppers have heard all of Marc Rardin’s proverbs, over the last few months, but they needed some positive reinforcement as they close out an eight-game homestand. Friday night’s victory over the Aggies sets the table for a successful weekend, and they’ll try to roll with that momentum in Game Two on Saturday afternoon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First pitch is set for 3 p.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Western Kentucky improved to 18-16 overall and 5-8 in Conference USA, while New Mexico State dropped to 14-18 and 6-7, respectively. The Hilltoppers played two of the league’s top teams over the first half of conference play, including C-USA leader Jacksonville State, along with a talented Liberty squad, so they’re certainly in position to make a move in the final month, and change, of regular-season play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We’ve got a lot of season left,” WKU third baseman J.P. Acosta said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Acosta was one of several WKU players to make exceptional defensive plays against the Aggies, while scratching out two infield hits to keep the Hilltoppers in control. Western Kentucky never trailed in Friday night’s game, which allowed WKU pitchers Nathan Robertson and Mick Uebelhor to challenge the Aggies’ batters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Uebelhor retired 12 of the last 13 guys he faced,” Rardin said, “and we walked away with a Friday night victory …”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
WKU’s DANIEL STEWART HAD
A LEADOFF DOUBLE IN THE EIGHTH.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
WKU SHORTSTOP REID HOWARD
HAS 13 STOLEN BASES IN 14 ATTEMPTS.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
NEW MEXICO STATE PULLED
TO WITHIN 5-3 WITH TWO RUNS
IN THE TOP OF THE FIFTH INNING …<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
… BUT WKU’s MICK UEBELHOR
CLOSED THE DOOR ON THE AGGIES.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WKU shortstop Ryan Howard, who has battled injuries this season, had to leave late in the game after taking some NMSU spikes covering third base in the late innings. Robertson and Uebelhor combined for 14 strikeouts, against only two walks, to limit the Aggies’ opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WKU right fielder Hayden Robbins, a transfer from Morehead State University, made a terrific catch in foul territory, sliding into the right-field wall to snare a line drive off the bat of NSMU shortstop Boston Vest. As Rardin pointed out, that was the critical first out of the frame, and Uebelhor struck out the next two batters he faced to get the Hilltoppers back in their dugout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Randy Lee, the longtime “Voice of the Hilltoppers,” had four or five ‘Holy Moly!’ calls, over the duration of the game, including third baseman J.P. Acosta’s glove work to rob the Aggies’ Brandon Clizbe of a leadoff hit in the seventh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Guys are sacrificing themselves for the team,” Rardin said. “They want to be part of something bigger than themselves …”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WKU first baseman Kyle Hayes got the Hilltoppers on the board with a leadoff home run in the second inning. It was a towering shot to left field, his team-high eighth home run of the season, and in the third inning, WKU center fielder Parker Coley followed suit, with his first home run of the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coley’s homer sailed over the fence in left-center field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps more important, however, was the Hilltoppers’ ability to make something happen with two outs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the fourth, the Tops put two men on base before NMSU right-hander Connor Wylde for the second out of the inning. WKU shortstop Reid Howard, the Hilltoppers’ leadoff man, delivered a sinking line drive to left-center field, bringing teammates J.P. Acosta and Cael Frost across the plate to put Western in front, 6-1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Two-out hits win championships,” Rardin said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
WKU NEEDED JUST TWO PITCHERS
WHILE THE AGGIES HAD TO USE FOUR …<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
…. AND THE HILLTOPPERS COULD
SET THE TONE FOR THE SERIES.<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not to be outdone, WKU second baseman Austin Haller provided some insurance in the bottom of the eighth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daniel Stewart, the Hilltoppers’ designated hitter, led off the inning with a double down the left-field line. Robbins sent pinch runner Hayden Nazerenus to third on a sacrifice bunt, and Coley coaxed a walk from NSMU reliever Asa Briggs. Haller stepped to the plate with two outs, and he lined a shot that bounced off the pitcher’s mound and into shallow right field, extending the Hilltoppers’ lead to 7-4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Uebelhor finished the task at hand, in the top of the ninth, and Kool & The Gang’s “Celebration” blared over the speakers at The Nick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We got some timely hitting,” WKU coach Marc Rardin said, “and we took our base, on some pitches, and worked some counts. A lot of guys contributed.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
THE ‘NICK DENES FIELD SUPERMAN’
DOES HIS THING IN THE EARLY INNINGS …<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
WKU COACH TYSON HELTON AND THE TOPS
WILL HOLD THEIR ‘SPRING FOOTBALL SHOWCASE’
ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON AT THE HOUCH …<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
… AND YES, PIPER, THEN IT’s ‘BARK IN THE PARK’ DAY …<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

WKU COACH MARC RARDIN: ‘TWO-OUT HITS WIN CHAMPIONSHIPS …’ You could see it, the looks on their faces in the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":20700,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,1,17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-20697","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nationalsports","category-potpourri","category-wkusports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20697","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=20697"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20697\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20715,"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20697\/revisions\/20715"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/20700"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=20697"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=20697"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/jimmashek.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=20697"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}