WKU Softball swept its first home tournament of the 2025 season Feb. 23-24.
The Hilltoppers carried their momentum from last weekend’s perfect record into their four wins over Bradley and Gardner-Webb. WKU now has a nine-game winning streak and a 4-0 home record.
During the tournament, WKU recorded a season-high number of at-bats (31) and doubles (five). Distinctive players include freshman pitcher Delainey Bargfrede and freshman third baseman Katie Murphy. Murphy hit her first collegiate home run, and Bargfrede’s 1.50 ERA is now the lowest of the four Hilltopper pitchers.
Day 1
WKU defeated Gardner-Webb and Bradley on the first day of the two-day series.
The Hilltoppers showed up and showed out for their home crowd in their first game against Gardner-Webb. Their 9-1 run-ahead victory was a full team effort.
The first inning was the tamest of all. Starting right-handed sophomore pitcher Rylan Smith held Gardner-Webb to no runs in the top of the first. Sophomore shortstop Morgan Sharpe put the first run of the game on the board after freshman second baseman Charlotte Herron’s ground-out RBI.
The second inning saw the most action. Gardner-Webb scored their first and only run of the game tying it at 1-1. The Hilltoppers quickly took back the lead with five runs in the bottom of the second.
Murphy scored on a wild pitch. Junior center fielder Jenna Blanton singled to first off a bunt. She got caught in a pickle between first and second allowing sophomore left fielder Kendle White to advance home.
Blanton then secured one herself. With the bases loaded, freshman utility player Macy Gregor scored off an RBI single from sophomore infielder Maci Masters.
The Hilltoppers led 5-1 after the second.
In the bottom of the third, Sharpe’s RBI single to center field led to a run from Kendle White.
WKU dominated the fourth inning. Herron and junior outfielder Anniston Bray advanced home after a two-RBI single from freshman outfielder Kennedy Stinson. Stinson then scored off an RBI single from Blanton.
The Hilltoppers had a 9-1 lead going into the fifth.
Freshman pitcher/utility player Erica Houge replaced Smith in the circle in the top of the fifth. Houge held Gardner-Webb to zero runs.
The game concluded there, and the Hilltoppers took home their first win at home of the 2025 season.
WKU defeated Bradley 6-4 in a suspenseful second game of the day.
Junior Maddy Wood started for the Hilltoppers. The first inning saw no runs from either team.
The Braves put two on the board in the top of the second and another in the top of the third. A slow start for WKU led to a 3-0 Bradley lead after the third.
After struggling early on, the Hilltoppers turned the game around in the fourth. Freshman Delainey Bargfrede subbed in for Wood at pitcher in the top of the fourth and allowed no runs.
In the bottom of the fourth, Kendle White’s two-RBI single down the left field line led to runs from Annie White and Bray. WKU trailed by one run after the fourth.
The top of the fifth also saw no runs from the Braves. Kendle White caught back-to-back fly balls, and Bargfrede struck out the final batter with the bases loaded.
The Hilltoppers’ momentum only grew in the bottom of the fifth. With Sharpe on first base, Annie White hit her first home run of the season. WKU took its first lead of the game.
With bases loaded, Stinson’s sacrifice fly out to left field allowed for a run from Masters. Kendle White’s RBI single led to another run from Herron. After trailing by one run after the fourth, WKU took a 6-3 lead after the fifth.
Kendle White retired all three outs in the top of the sixth. The Braves hit a home run in the top of the seventh, but it was no match for the Hilltoppers’ lead. The 6-4 victory secured WKU’s second home win of the season.
Day 2
WKU faced Bradley and Gardner-Webb on the second and final day of the Hilltopper Classic.
Game one against Bradley started out slow with no scoring in the first three innings. A home run from the Braves put the first run on the board in the top of the fourth.
The Hilltoppers responded with a run from Blanton due to Gregor’s RBI single in the bottom of the fifth.
Neither team scored in the sixth. The game was tied 1-1 going into the final inning.
The Hilltoppers held the Braves to zero runs in the top of the seventh. With the game on the line, Herron’s RBI single down the left field line allowed Masters to advance to second and Bray to advance home. The nailbiter of a game ended in a 2-1 WKU win.
WKU competed against Gardner-Webb in the final game of the series with its undefeated at-home record at stake.
Unlike the teams’ first faceoff, Gardner-Webb came out hot and held a 3-0 lead after the top of the fourth.
WKU finally found its groove in the bottom of the fourth. Masters’ RBI double led to a run from Gregor, the Hilltoppers’ first run of the game. With Masters and Annie White on base, Murphy hit a home run, the first of her collegiate career. The Hilltoppers led 4-3 after the fourth.
A scoring drought plagued Gardner-Webb through the rest of the game, but WKU’s success only grew.
The Hilltoppers extended their lead to 10-3 after the fifth. Masters’ RBI walk led to a run from Sharpe. Herron’s two-RBI double allowed for two more runs from Annie White and Gregor. Drinnon’s two-RBI single authorized another two runs this time from Herron and Masters. Finally, Drinnon scored off of Sharpe’s RBI walk.
The rest of the game remained scoreless, clinching the Hilltoppers’ undefeated at-home record.
The Hilltoppers are back in action at home this weekend Feb. 28-March 2 for the Hilltopper Spring Fling.
WKU will compete against in-state rival Kentucky on Feb. 28 at 3 p.m. CT to start the weekend.
Sports Reporter Adrianna Lein can be reached at Adrianna.lein265@topper.wku.edu.
