WKU Softball defeats EKU in extra innings
WKU senior pitcher Katie Gardner (5) throws a pitch during the game against the University of Akron at the WKU Softball Complex on March 5, 2023. Gardner pitched the entire game with 9 total strikeouts by the end of the game. WKU won 5-0.
March 8, 2023
WKU Softball claimed a 3-2 victory in an extra-inning contest against the Eastern Kentucky University Colonels March 8, in Richmond, Kentucky.
The Hilltoppers and Colonels took a seven-inning game all the way into the 13th inning as the teams traded runs throughout the contest.
WKU’s offense put up 13 hits in the afternoon, but only managed to score three runs. Sophomore Randi Drinnon and fifth year Taylor Davis led the offense. Drinnon and Davis recorded two hits each, Drinnon also had two RBIs and Davis scored both of the Hilltoppers’ runs.
The Colonels and Hilltoppers offenses struggled to push runs across as the result of strong pitching performances by each side.
Senior Katie Gardner started on the mound for the Hilltoppers and put together an outstanding performance. Gardner pitched nine innings, allowing two runs on 138 pitches, and striking out ten.
EKU reliever Lauren Narvaez put together a strong outing out of the bullpen after the starter only lasted four innings. Narvaez went six innings, allowing only one run on six hits.
WKU got off to a quick start, putting up a run in the top of the first inning. Randi Drinnon gave WKU a 1-0 lead with an RBI single.
Following the run, both offenses fell silent for an extended period of time. Neither team scored again until the bottom of the sixth when EKU tied it 1-1 with an RBI single.
EKU and WKU failed to score in the seventh, sending the game into extra innings.
The offenses remained quiet to begin the extra innings.
The Hilltoppers took a 2-1 advantage in the top of the tenth on a Sac Fly that Davis came home to score on.
The Colonels quickly responded, however, as the first batter in the bottom of the tenth homered to right field to tie the game back up 2-2.
The offenses once again fell silent in the 11th and 12th innings as both teams failed to score.
The Hilltoppers finally added a run on an RBI groundout in the 13th. The run gave them a 3-2 lead, which ended up being enough to win the game.
WKU will return home over the weekend to host Miami University (Ohio) in a three-game series March 11-12. The series will begin with a doubleheader Saturday, starting at 1 p.m. CST.
Sports reporter Camden Bush can be reached at [email protected].
