The 2025 season-opening tournament for WKU Softball proved to be challenging, grabbing one victory in a five-game weekend Feb. 7-9.
The Hilltoppers traveled to Atlanta over the weekend to compete in the Buzz Classic. Despite top performances from sophomore transfer Maci Masters and redshirt junior transfer Jenna Blanton, WKU walked away with a 1-4 record.
The duo combined for seven runs and 14 hits. Masters also hit the two lone Hilltopper home runs.
Day 1
WKU fell to Belmont and Eastern Kentucky on the first day of the Buzz Classic.
In WKU’s first game, Belmont set the tone with a 5-0 lead after the first inning and extended their lead to 6-0 going into the fourth. Masters responded with her first home run of the weekend in the fourth, putting the Hilltoppers on the board, but the game ended in a 7-1 win for Belmont.
WKU faced in-state rival EKU in game two of the day but came up short 5-1.
A strong EKU second inning included a two-RBI single and a three-run home run putting the Colonels up 5-0. After a three-inning scoring drought, Blanton secured a run off Masters’ RBI single in the sixth, but the game’s scoring concluded there.
Day 2
Looking for redemption, WKU defeated Belmont 3-1 to begin day two of the tournament.
The Hilltoppers opened the game with a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Conference-USA Preseason All-Conference Team infielder Morgan Sharpe’s RBI single led to a run from Blanton, and then Sharpe secured one herself.
The Bruins’ run in the top of the third cut WKU’s lead in half, but an RBI double from freshman infielder Charlotte Herron led to another run for Blanton. The rest of the game remained scoreless, giving the Hilltoppers their first victory.
WKU fell to Georgia Tech 3-2 in the teams’ first matchup of the weekend.
An RBI double from sophomore infielder and Bowling Green native Kendle White led to a run from Sharpe in the top of the third. The Yellow Jackets responded with runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth.
Blanton’s run tied the game at 2-2 in the final inning but Georgia Tech’s run in the bottom of the seventh handed the Hilltoppers their third loss of the tournament.
Day 3
On the final day of the Buzz Classic, Georgia Tech defeated the Hilltoppers 4-2 in the teams’ second tournament faceoff.
Masters put the first run on the board in the top of the second, but a three-run home run and a bases-loaded walk from the Yellow Jackets combined for a 4-1 Georgia Tech lead going into the fifth.
Masters’ second home run of the tournament in the top of the seventh put the Hilltoppers down by two, but WKU couldn’t close the lead any further.
WKU will travel to Troy, Alabama to play Southeast Missouri State at 9 a.m. on Feb. 14 to kickoff the Trojan Classic.
Sports Reporter Adrianna Lein can be reached at [email protected].
