WKU Softball wins four of five games in Carolina Classic

Marshall Canupp

Hilltoppers Softball’s junior infielder TJ Webster (3), makes a throw to first base to add another out to the scoreboard during their matchup with the Razorbacks of the University of Arkansas during their matchup on March 21st at the WKU Softball Complex.

Jake McMahon

WKU Softball participated in the five game Carolina Classic Feb. 17-19 at Carolina Softball Stadium in Colombia, South Carolina.

WKU had an impressive weekend, winning 4 of 5 games to improve to a 5-5 overall record on the season. 

Senior Taylor Sanders dominated throughout the weekend. Sanders had three homeruns over the five game weekend and tallied an impressive eight RBI’s.

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Game 1

WKU kicked off their weekend Friday, with a dominant 6-2 win over the Delaware Blue Hens.

WKU put Delaware in a hole early. The Hilltpoppers had a five run first inning that was fueled by a three-run bomb from Sanders. WKU tallied their other runs in the inning on two doubles from fifth-year senior Faith Hegh and junior Kennedy Foote. 

Delaware was able to get two runs on the board in the bottom of the first, but WKU answered in the top of the second with an RBI double from sophomore Randi Drinnon. 

All the scoring resided in the first two innings as the Hilltoppers took the win 6-2

WKU was powered by a great performance on the mound from Senior Katie Gardner. Gardner tallied her second win of the season after a 10 strikeout complete game.

 

Game 2

WKU carried their momentum into the second game of the Friday double header with a 6-1 win over East Tennessee State. 

WKU yet again grabbedan early lead. Junior Kennedy Foote drove in the first run of the game with a sac fly in the top of the second.

The Hilltoppers began to pile it on the Buccaneers in the third. Hegh brought in a run on an RBI single. 

Drinnion was also able to score on the hit following an East Tennessee State throwing error. Junior Kelsey Schmidt drove in the third run of the inning with a single into center.

Sanders got her second homer of the weekend in the fifth inning with a solo bomb. East Tennessee State would put an end to the shutout in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single.

Sanders hit her second home run of the game in the seventh with a first pitch solo blast. 

Freshman Maddy Wood came in and closed the ball game as the Lady Toppers took the win 6-1. 

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Game 3

WKU would win their third game of the weekend with an 8-0 mercy rule victory over the George Washington Colonials.

The Hilltoppers started the scoring in the bottom of the third. Sanders continued her amazing weekend with a two RBI double to left center. Hegh followed up the double with a single through the middle to drive in Sanders. 

Senior Brylee Hage continued scoring going in the beginning of the fourth. She brought in two runs with a single into center. Drinnon came up to the plate with the bases loaded and walked in a run. Hegh drove in the fourth and final run of the inning with a sac fly. 

Hage walked the game off in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single. WKU mercy ruled the Colonials 8-0. 

Gardner got her second win of the weekend against George Washington. She pitched an impressive two hit, six strikeout game. 

 

Game 4

WKU got their fourth win in a row Sunday, with a 3-0 shutout victory against the Campbell Camels.

Sanders started the scoring in the game with an RBI single up the middle. This was Sanders eighth RBI of the contest.

Hage drove in the final two runs of the contest in the fourth with a two RBI double into left center.

Redshirt-sophomore Kelsie Houchens had a great game on the mound. She went a full seven innings with seven strikeouts and only two hits. 

 

Game 5

WKU’s great weekend came to a disappointing end with an 11-2 loss against the South Carolina Gamecocks.

South Carolina had an early start against the Hilltoppers. The Gamecocks put the Hillltoppers in a hole early with a four run first inning.

WKU made a dent in the deficit in the top of the second. Foote drove in the first WKU run of the game with a sac fly. 

Fifth-year senior Taylor Davis followed up Foote with an infield single that drove in another run. However, South Carolina responded in the bottom of the inning. Fueled by a grand slam, South Carolina put seven runs on the board.

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All the runs in the game were scored in the first two innings as South Carolina mercy ruled the Hilltoppers, 11-2. 

 

WKU will return to Bowling Green to host the WKU Hilltopper Classic Feb. 24-26 at the WKU Softball Complex. WKU’s weekend will begin with a Friday double header against Illinois State and Central Michigan. 

 

Sports reporter Jake McMahon can be reached at [email protected] .