WKU Softball’s season came to a close in the C-USA Softball Championship May 10-11 at Dr. Billy Buindrick Field in Ruston, Louisiana. WKU won their first game against Florida International before losing their next two against Florida Atlantic and Middle Tennessee State. 

GAME 1

WKU defeated the FIU Golden Panthers in a low-scoring first round game, 2-1.

Senior Katie Gardner was great in the circle for the Lady Toppers. Gardner pitched a complete game shutout, collecting eight strikeouts in the process.

Fifth year senior Taylor Sanders scored on an error in the fourth, putting the Lady Toppers up 1-0. 

WKU added another in the fourth on an RBI single from junior Jessica Bush, 2-0.

FIU scored on an RBI single in the sixth, however Gardner got herself out of a bases loaded jam in the same frame, minimizing the damage and keeping the score at 2-1. 

Aided by a great throw from sophomore catcher Randi Drinnon to stop a steal attempt to second in the seventh, WKU escaped the FIU upset bid with a 2-1 victory. 

GAME 2

WKU lost their first game of the tournament with a 6-0 loss to the FAU Owls. 

FAU jumped to an early lead with a solo shot in the bottom of the second.

FAU widened their lead in the bottom of the third with a two RBI single into right, 3-0.

FAU added three runs of insurance in the fifth and sixth inning as the Lady Toppers fell to the Owls 6-0. 

GAME 3

WKU’s season came to an end with a 7-1 loss against rival MTSU.

MTSU got off to a hot start with a two run homer in the first.

MTSU began to pile it on the Lady Toppers in the top of the second inning. Five runs came across for the Blue Raiders in the frame making it 7-0. 

WKU scored in the bottom of the second on a RBI hit by pitch, however it was all the Lady Toppers could muster as MTSU advanced 7-1.

WKU finished the 2023 season with a 30-24 record and a 14-9 record in conference play. 

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