Tops picked third in CUSA preseason coaches poll
Published 12:31 pm Thursday, January 30, 2025
KU pitcher Dawson Hall (9) delivers a pitch during an NCAA baseball game between the University of Louisville and Western Kentucky University on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Bowling Green, Ky. WKU beat Louisville 3-2 in 10 innings. (JAMES KENNEY / AP)
KU designated hitter Ethan Lizama (20) watches his foul ball during an NCAA baseball game between the University of Louisville and Western Kentucky University on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Bowling Green, Ky. WKU beat Louisville 3-2 in 10 innings. (JAMES KENNEY / AP)
Western Kentucky right-handed pitcher Dawson Hall and outfielder Ethan Lizama were named to the Conference USA Preseason All-Conference Team and the Hilltoppers were selected third in the 2025 CUSA Baseball Preseason Poll, the league announced Thursday.
This marks the second time Hall has earned Preseason All-CUSA status. Last year, WKU had three pitchers named to the All-CUSA Preseason Team as former Hilltoppers Mason Burns and Lane Diuguid collected the honor alongside Hall.
Hall and Lizama both received CUSA postseason recognition at the conclusion of the 2024 season.
Hall, a junior, was named All-CUSA Second Team for the second consecutive season after appearing in 10 games with seven starts on the mound for WKU. The right-hander’s 1.69 ERA was the sixth-best in WKU baseball history and the best the program has had since the 1981 season (minimum 30 innings pitched). He posted a 3-0 record with 25 strikeouts in 32 innings pitched while holding opponents to a .217 batting average.
The Bowling Green native earned wins against Purdue Fort Wayne, West Virginia and Sam Houston.
Lizama, a senior, was selected to the CUSA All-Tournament Team after a stellar performance in the CUSA Championships at the end of the 2024 season. The Guam native went 6-for-11 (.545) at the plate with three home runs and five RBIs, including a two-homer game against eventual CUSA champion Dallas Baptist in an elimination game on May 25. Overall, he led WKU with 64 hits and nine home runs last year, while his .309 batting average, 42 RBIs, 39 runs scored and 16 doubles in 2024 are the best of any returner on the 2025 roster.
The Hilltoppers were picked to finish third in CUSA, as voted on by the league’s 10 head coaches. WKU received 72 total points.
2025 CUSA Preseason Coaches Poll (first-place votes) Total
1. Dallas Baptist (9) 99
2. Louisiana Tech 87
3. WKU 72
4. Sam Houston 56
5. Liberty 55
6. Kennesaw State 54
7. FIU 44
T-8. Middle Tennessee 29
T-8. New Mexico State (1) 29
10. Jax State 25
2025 CUSA Preseason Player of the Year
Grant Jay, Dallas Baptist, C
2025 CUSA Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Jerrod Jenkins, Dallas Baptist, RHP
2025 CUSA Preseason All-Conference Team
C: Grant Jay, Dallas Baptist
INF: Michael Dattalo, Dallas Baptist
INF: Luke Heefner, Dallas Baptist
INF: Chayton Krauss, Dallas Baptist
INF: Caleb Johnson, Jax State
OF: Kishon Frett, FIU
OF: Eston Snyder, MTSU
OF: Ethan Lizama, WKU
DH: Tom Poole, Dallas Baptist
UTL: Trace Phillips, MTSU
SP: Jerrod Jenkins, Dallas Baptist
SP: Luke Pettite, Dallas Baptist
SP: Luke Nichols, LA Tech
SP: Chandler Alderman, MTSU
SP: Dawson Hall, WKU
RP: Bo Rhudy, Kennesaw State
RP: Ben Blair, Liberty
WKU is scheduled to open the 2025 season with a four-game series beginning at 3 p.m. on Feb. 14 at home against Illinois State.
