Western Kentucky’s season ended with a 7-5 defeat from second-seeded Dallas Baptist in the Conference USA Baseball Championships Semifinals on Saturday afternoon at Pat Patterson Park in Ruston, Louisiana.

The Hilltoppers got on the scoreboard first with an RBI single from junior Blake Cavill in the first frame, but the Patriots responded with two runs in the second inning to take the lead.

Junior Ethan Lizama put the Tops back in front with a two-run homer in the fourth, but Dallas Baptist retook the lead, scoring four unanswered runs throughout the next three frames.

WKU outscored the Patriots 2-1 in the final three innings with a solo homer from Cavill and Lizama’s second long ball of the day, but that would be all they could muster.

The WKU offense produced five runs on seven hits and two walks in the contest. Lizama led the way as he had three RBIs with two home runs, a double and two runs scored. Cavill had the other two RBIs in a 2-for-4 outing with a home run and a run scored.

The Hilltopper pitching staff allowed seven runs on 10 hits and three walks. Six arms saw action, with junior Grant Burleson earning the start. The right-hander lasted 1 1/3 innings and surrendered two runs on two hits. Graduate student Coby Moe was the only WKU pitcher to not concede a run, tossing 1 1/3 frames of no-hit baseball while striking out one.

After being picked to finish fifth in the Conference USA preseason poll, head coach Marc Rardin and the Hilltoppers claimed the No. 3 spot in the league standings at the conclusion of the 2024 season, their best finish since joining CUSA in 2015. WKU earned 36 wins, the ninth-most in program history and the most since the 2009 season.

Since taking the helm in the 2023 season, Rardin has led the Tops to back-to-back 30-plus win seasons for the first time since 2010-11.

WKU recorded six series wins over CUSA opponents, winning five consecutively against Jax State, No. 8 Dallas Baptist, Sam Houston, Liberty and Middle Tennessee. The Hilltoppers ended the regular season with a series win over New Mexico State.

For the second consecutive year, WKU won two postseason games advanced to the Conference USA Championships Semifinals, something it had not done as a member of the league prior to 2023.