WKU Softball went 1-2 in its third conference series at the University of Texas at El Paso March 21-23.
Despite the losses, sophomore designated hitter Maci Masters set the single-game program records for RBIs (eight) and home runs (three) in WKU’s lone win on Saturday.
The Hilltoppers are 15-13 on the season and 2-6 in Conference USA.
Game 1
WKU fell to UTEP in its first game of the three-game series Friday.
Neither team scored in the first two innings.
A two-RBI double from UTEP put the Miners on the board in the bottom of the third.
The Hilltoppers responded with a two-RBI homer from freshman center fielder Kennedy Stinson and an RBI flyout from sophomore left fielder Kendle White in the top of the fourth. The Hilltoppers were up 3-2 after the fourth.
In the top of the fifth, WKU kept its momentum with an RBI single from Stinson. The Hilltoppers held a 4-2 lead after the fifth.
An RBI single and an RBI triple from UTEP tied the game 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth.
The Hilltoppers couldn’t connect in the top of the seventh. The Miners’ RBI single in the bottom of the seventh put UTEP up 5-4 closing out the game.
Game 2
The Hilltoppers won a back-and-forth battle on Saturday.
UTEP got out to a quick 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
Masters’ two-RBI homer – her first of the game – put the Hilltoppers on the board in the top of the second. The Miners quickly responded in the bottom of the second with a bases-loaded walk.
UTEP extended its lead to 5-2 in the bottom of the third with a home run.
WKU took control of the game in the top of the fourth. Kicking off the action was Masters’ grand slam – her second home run of the game. Freshman second baseman Charlotte Herron’s two-RBI single and Stinson’s RBI flyout built WKU’s momentum.
The Miners answered with a two-RBI homer in the bottom of the fourth. A high-scoring fourth inning gave WKU a 9-7 lead going into the fifth.
The top of the fifth saw a sacrifice fly from freshman right fielder Macy Gregor. UTEP scored on another bases-loaded walk. The Hilltoppers were up 10-8 after the fifth.
Another two-RBI home run from Masters – her third and final homer of the game – extended WKU’s lead to 12-8 in the top of the sixth.
A two-RBI homer from UTEP in the bottom of the seventh gave the Miners hope, but it was no match for the Hilltoppers’ lead.
The high-scoring game concluded in a 12-10 WKU win.
Game 3
WKU lost to UTEP in a tame final game of the series Sunday.
Sophomore first baseman Annie White’s RBI double put the first run on the board in the top of the first.
The second and third innings saw no runs from either team.
A pair of two-RBI homers gave UTEP a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth.
The rest of the game remained scoreless, leaving the Hilltoppers with their second loss of the weekend.
WKU is back in action at home Tuesday, March 25 at 6 p.m. against Louisville.
Sports Reporter Adrianna Lein can be reached at adrianna.lein265@topper.wku.edu.
