WKU Softball secured its second Conference USA series win April 4 and 5 at Kennesaw State University.
Sophomore designated hitter Maci Masters lived up to her offensive reputation this weekend. She earned four RBIs from two homers in WKU’s game-two win. The Hilltopper pitching staff also proved very effective. The squad allowed just three runs in the three-game series.
WKU improved to 20-16 overall and 6-8 in CUSA.
Game 1
WKU’s top-to-bottom performance on Friday led to its 6-1 win.
Defensively, sophomore Rylan Smith struck out five KSU batters. Offensively, the Hilltoppers combined for seven hits and two doubles.
Neither team found home plate in the first three innings.
The Hilltoppers got into their groove in the fourth. In the top, freshman second baseman Charlotte Herron scored on a wild pitch, and Drinnon sent one over the fence – her second game in a row with a home run. In the bottom, sophomore Rylan Smith wasted no time striking out the first three KSU batters. WKU led 2-0 after the fourth.
The Hilltoppers extended their lead in the top of the fifth with sophomore first baseman Annie White’s flyout RBI, which scored sophomore shortstop Morgan Sharpe and junior pinch runner Anniston Bray.
After KSU’s home run in the bottom of the fifth, freshman Erica Houge replaced Smith in the circle. Houge allowed no more Owl runs.
The score remained 4-1 through the sixth.
In the top of the seventh, freshman pinch hitter Macy Gregor scored Annie White with an RBI single and Herron scored on an error putting the Hilltoppers up 6-1. KSU couldn’t connect in the bottom of the seventh.
Game 2
WKU defeated KSU 7-1 opening Saturday’s doubleheader.
Freshman Erica Houge and freshman Delainey Bargfrede split the game in the circle. Houge allowed no runs, and Bargfrede allowed one.
The Hilltoppers got out to a big lead in the top of the first. A three-RBI homer from Masters gave WKU a 3-0 edge.
The game was quiet during the second through fourth innings.
The Hilltoppers came alive again in the top of the fifth. Another home run from Masters and unearned runs from Sharpe, Herron and Stinson extended WKU’s lead to 7-0.
KSU responded in the bottom of the fifth with a sacrifice fly.
Neither team scored in the sixth or seventh, guaranteeing the series win for the Hilltoppers.
Game 3
WKU fell to KSU in a 1-0 shutout to close Saturday’s games, shattering the Hilltoppers’ four-game winning streak.
The final game of the series was a tame one. The teams combined for only 38 at-bats and three hits.
The lone run of the game came from a KSU RBI single in the bottom of the fifth.
The Hilltoppers are on the road again for another CUSA series at Middle Tennessee State University April 11-13.
Sports Reporter Adrianna Lein can be reached at adrianna.lein265@topper.wku.edu.
