Western Kentucky fell 6-4 to Florida International in the second game of a three-game Conference USA baseball series on Saturday evening at FIU Baseball Stadium in Miami.

WKU drops to 34-9 overall and 11-6 in CUSA on the season, and 41-46 all-time against FIU (25-18, 8-8 CUSA). This marks the first loss of the season on a Saturday for the Hilltoppers.

FIU took a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the second inning.

WKU’s Ryan Wideman evened things up in the third with an RBI single.’

A pair of RBI singles and a three-run homer gave the Panthers a 6-1 lead after three.

A solo home run from Ethan Lizama cut the WKU deficit to 6-2 in the fourth.

The Hilltoppers made it a three-run game with an RBI single from Kyle Hayes in the fifth.

Lizama drove in another in the ninth to make the final tally 6-4.

Drew Whalen started on the mound for the Hilltoppers. The right-hander struck out six in 4 1/3 frames while allowing six runs on eight hits and three walks.

Lucas Hartman made an appearance out of the bullpen. The Bradenton, Florida, native tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings and collected three strikeouts.

WKU scored four runs on 10 hits and six walks with four RBIs.

Four Hilltoppers tallied multi-hit efforts in Lizama, Hayes, Wideman and Carlos Vasquez.

Lizama homered in a 2-for-5 day with two RBIs and a run scored. It was his seventh homer of the season and the 16th of his WKU career.

Hayes was 2-for-3 with an RBI, two walks and a stolen base. Wideman went 2-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base. Vasquez went 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored. Kyle Hvidsten reached base three times in a 1-for-3 outing with a walk and a hit-by-pitch. Joe Siervo walked twice and scored two runs.

WKU and FIU conclude the series Sunday at FIU Baseball Stadium. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. CT.