WKU Softball kicked off its 2023 season with a five-game tournament Feb. 10- 12 in the Florida Spring Games.

The Hilltoppers lost four of five games over the weekend, giving them a 1-4 record to start the year.

In the five games the Hilltoppers took on the University of Minnesota twice, the University of Michigan twice, and Butler University once. 

Despite the lack of team success, senior outfielder Brylee Hage had a very successful weekend at the plate. Hage tallied nine hits over five games and her batting average currently sits at .500 after five games.

Game 1

On Friday, the Hilltoppers dropped their first game to Minnesota 10-2.

Minnesota’s offense exploded in the second inning as the team put up four runs in the inning and never looked back. 

WKU fifth year right fielder Faith Hegh responded with an RBI double in the third inning to give WKU its first run and make the game 4-1.

Minnesota responded with a big fourth inning in which the Golden Gophers put up four more runs. One of the runs in the fourth came via stealing home.

WKU added another run on a fielder’s choice in the fifth but it was not enough as Minnesota scored twice more in the sixth and closed out a 10-2 victory.

Despite the loss, Hage had her best game of the weekend, tallying three hits in the game.

Game 2

The Hilltoppers bounced back in the second game of the weekend as they took down Butler 10-0. The game began Friday, but a rain delay in the middle of the game forced the teams to finish the game Saturday morning.

Despite the delay, the Hilltoppers offense exploded for 10 runs over the first four innings. 

WKU started the scoring in the second inning on an RBI double to make it 1-0. The following inning, the Hilltoppers added three more runs.

In the fourth inning the WKU offense blew the game wide open with a six-run inning that gave them a 10-0 lead, which lasted the rest of the game.

The Hilltoppers tallied 14 hits in the six inning game, including three by freshman outfielder Addy Edgmon. 

Game 3

In the third game of the weekend the Hilltoppers fell 5-2 to the Michigan Wolverines Saturday, Feb. 11. 

Redshirt sophomore pitcher Kelsie Houchens pitched her third game in a row and final game of the weekend against the Wolverines. Michigan began with a quick start against Houchens as they took a 2-0 lead in the first on an RBI double and a sac fly. 

The Wolverines added to the lead in the second inning with a two-RBI triple that made it a 4-0 game.

Both offenses were quiet until the sixth when Michigan added yet another run on a single to the pitcher. 

The Hilltoppers tried to rally in the seventh and final inning of the game, but came up short as they could only manage two runs, to make it 5-2. 

Game 4

WKU faced Michigan again Saturday afternoon and once again lost 5-2. The second loss however did come in extra innings as the game went to nine innings.

The Hilltoppers had a quick start with a sac fly RBI in the first inning that gave them a 1-0 lead.

Things were looking good for the Hilltoppers until the sixth inning when Michigan scored on an RBI triple and tied it 1-1, sending the game to extra innings.

In the eighth inning, the Wolverines scored in the top to take a 2-1 lead.

The Hilltoppers responded with a huge RBI double in the bottom of the inning to tie it 2-2, and send the game to the ninth. The Wolverines proceeded to add three more runs in the top of the ninth. WKU failed to respond in the bottom of the inning, handing Michigan a 5-2 victory.

Despite the loss, senior starting pitcher Katie Gardner pitched a solid game. Gardner pitched all nine innings and allowed only three earned runs.

Game 5

The Hilltoppers closed out the weekend with a 7-4 loss to Minnesota Sunday, Feb. 12. 

WKU had a great start Sunday morning as they put up two runs in the first inning on a two-RBI double. The Hilltoppers then added two more runs in the top of the third to take a 4-0 lead. 

The Golden Gophers responded in the bottom of the third with a two-run home run to cut the deficit to 4-2. Minnesota tacked on a third run in the fourth inning before the offense exploded in the fifth.

In the fifth inning, the Golden Gophers scored four runs and had two home runs, giving them a 7-4 lead. 

Despite a quick start, the Hilltoppers only managed six hits in total.

Minnesota was able to hold onto the lead for the rest of the game, handing WKU a 7-4 defeat. 

Up next, the Hilltoppers will be participating in the Carolina Classic tournament next weekend, Feb.17 – 19 in Columbia, South Carolina. WKU will kick off the weekend with a game against Delaware, Friday night at 9 p.m. CT.

Sports reporter Camden Bush can be reached at [email protected] .