WKU Softball went 1-2 in its 2025 conference-opening series at Sam Houston State University March 7-9.
Freshman outfielder Kennedy Stinson proved to be the Hilltopper’s MVP of the weekend. Her three-RBI double in game one clinched WKU’s lone victory of the series.
WKU now holds a 14-8 overall record.
Game 1
WKU defeated Sam Houston in an exhilarating 12-inning conference-play opener.
Runs from sophomore first baseman Annie White and sophomore infielder Maci Masters put the Hilltoppers up 2-0 after the second.
The Bearkats tied the game 2-2 with a two-RBI home run in the bottom of the third. Another SHSU two-run homer gave the Bearkats a 4-2 lead after the fifth.
Annie White’s home run in the top of the sixth and sophomore shortstop Morgan Sharpe’s run in the top of the seventh tied the game 4-4. SHSU couldn’t connect in the bottom of the seventh. The tied score at the end of regulation meant the game went into extra innings.
A run from junior outfielder Kaytlan Kemp gave the Hilltoppers the lead in the top of the eighth, but the Bearkats responded with an RBI triple tying the game 5-5.
The game remained scoreless for three more innings.
In the top of the 12th, WKU took back control. Senior catcher Randi Drinnon’s RBI bunt led to a run from freshman second baseman Charlotte Herron. Stinson’s clutch three-RBI double allowed for runs from Sharpe, sophomore outfielder Kendle White and Drinnon. The Hilltoppers led 9-5 after the top of the 12th.
SHSU couldn’t put one on the board in the bottom of the 12th. The game concluded in WKU’s first conference victory of the 2025 season.
Game 2
The Hilltoppers fell to the Bearkats 8-4 on Saturday.
SHSU redeemed itself after its first home conference loss. A solo home run and a three-RBI homer in the bottom of the first put the Bearkats up 4-0. Another three-RBI homer extended their lead to 7-0 after the second.
Kendle White’s run from Sharpe’s groundout RBI put the Hilltoppers on the board in the top of the third. Kemp’s RBI single through the left side allowed for a run from Annie White in the top of the fourth. The Hilltoppers trailed 7-2 going into the fifth.
Another SHSU home run gave the Bearkats an 8-2 advantage over the Hilltoppers after the fifth.
Kendle White’s two-RBI single scored junior outfielder Anniston Bray and Herron, but it was no match for SHSU’s lead.
The game concluded in WKU’s first CUSA loss.
Game 3
WKU fell short to SHSU in a tame final game of the weekend.
Neither team reached home plate in the first two innings.
A two-RBI single from SHSU in the bottom of the third put the first and last runs of the game on the board.
The 2-0 Hilltopper loss handed WKU its second conference loss.
WKU will host Ole Miss on Tuesday, March 11 at 5 p.m.
Sports Reporter Adrianna Lein can be reached at [email protected].
