Western Kentucky beat No. 17 Dallas Baptist 4-3 in the Conference USA baseball series opener on Friday night at Horner Ballpark in Dallas.

The Hilltopper pitching staff held the high-powered Patriots offense scoreless for the final eight innings, while Camden Ross launched a go-ahead, three-run home run to the opposite field in the third inning to give the Tops the lead and they never looked back.

Dallas Baptist got the scoring started with a two-RBI double and an RBI single to take a 3-0 lead in the first inning.

The Hilltoppers cut the Patriot lead to two with an RBI single from Kyle Hayes in the second frame.

Ross powered a three-run shot over the right-field wall to put WKU in the lead in the third. That would ultimately be end of the scoring as both offenses failed to cross any more runs in the final six innings.

WKU moved to 26-4 (5-2 CUSA) on the season and 4-6 all-time against Dallas Baptist.

With the win, all three series openers between the Hilltoppers and Patriots have gone in favor of WKU.

Jack Bennett got the start on the mound for the Tops. The right-hander struck out three in 4 2/3frames while allowing three runs on five hits and three walks.

Two arms saw action out the bullpen for WKU in Lucas Hartman and Cal Higgins. Hartman earned the win and held Dallas Baptist hitless in 2 2/3 innings of work. He recorded three strikeouts and three walks and improved to 3-0 on the season. Higgins grabbed his third save of the year in 1 2/3 frames. He struck out two Patriots and allowed just one hit.

WKU scored four runs on seven hits and three walks with four RBIs.

Hayes went 2-for-4 with an RBI – the only multi-hit outing of the day.

Ross was 1-for-3 with his second home run of the season, three RBI and a pair of runs. Carlos Vasquez and Ethan Lizama had a run each.

The Hilltopper defense played errorless baseball for the 10th time this season.

WKU and Dallas Baptist will continue the series tomorrow afternoon at Horner Ballpark. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. CT.