Western Kentucky’s baseball team secured a doubleheader sweep over Southeast Missouri on Friday at Nick Denes Field, taking Game 1, 12-4, before securing a 4-2 victory in Game 2.

The Hilltoppers take a 2-0 lead in the four-game weekend series with the Redhawks and improve to 4-2 overall with the wins.

SEMO plated three runs in the top of the second inning to lead in the opener, loading the bases and capitalizing on a sacrifice groundout to score first.

WKU answered in the bottom half, narrowing the deficit on an RBI single from Ian Nguyen to drive in Austin Haller and JP Acosta.

A Lane Arroyos double down the left field line drove in Nguyen and Hayden Nazarenus and gave the Tops a 5-3 advantage entering the third.

The Redhawks responded with an RBI single to cut the Hilltopper lead to 5-4 in the top third. After scoreless fourth and fifth innings, WKU broke the game open with a six-run sixth inning to take an 11-4 lead; Daniel Stewart registered an RBI single to plate Nguyen, Camden Ross and Reid Howard followed with RBI singles and Kyle Hayes delivered a two-RBI pinch-hit single, later scoring on a caught stealing.

Kiefer Tarnoki scored on a wild pitch in the seventh to add to the Hilltopper lead and wrap a 12-4 victory in Game 1. Arroyos paced the Tops’ offense with a 3-for-5 effort, including two doubles and two RBIs.Ross went 3-for-5 with two RBIs, and Nguyen finished 2-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored and Haller tallied two hits, contributing to the team’s 16 total hits on the day.

Gavin Perry started and went 4 1/3 innings, allowing four runs while striking out three batters. Mick Uebelhor earned the win with 3 2/3 scoreless innings of relief, allowing just two hits and striking out two; Dawson Hall closed the final frame with two strikeouts.

In the nightcap, WKU struck first in the opening frame as Stewart doubled to right center to plate Arroyos for a 1-0 lead.

SEMO answered with a pair of runs in the third before the Hilltoppers tied the contest in the fourth off an RBI single from Haller to drive in Howard.

The count remained even at 2-2 until Acosta doubled to right center and later scored on an RBI single from Tarnoki.

Howard delivered an insurance run with an RBI double to left center, driving in Nazarenus and giving WKU a 4-2 lead in the eighth.

Left-hander Zach Lyles recorded a scoreless ninth to close the game and secure a 4-2 victory in the Tops’ favor.

Aaron Robertson turned in a strong start, tossing six innings with seven strikeouts while allowing two runs; Robertson currently holds a 1.80 ERA with 14 strikeouts through 10 innings pitched on the season. Jude Favela earned the win with two scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

Howard finished 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI; Haller went 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI, while Tarnoki added two hits and an RBI.

WKU wraps its weekend series facing SEMO with a doubleheader on Saturday at Nick Denes Field. Game 1 of Saturday’s doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m., with Game 2 following at 4:30 p.m.