WKU Softball advanced to the semi-finals of the Conference USA tournament Thursday after a 3-2 win against Sam Houston.
Sophomore pitcher Rylan Smith started in the circle for the Hilltoppers, playing three innings, holding the Bearkats to two runs and striking out five batters.
Both teams came out of the first inning scoreless despite getting a runner on base.
The Bearkats left one runner on base in a scoreless top of the second inning. WKU capitalized by scoring the first run of the game at the bottom of the inning off a solo home run hit by freshman outfielder Kennedy Stinson, giving the Hilltoppers a 1-0 lead.
Sam Houston left two runners on base in the third inning after Smith collected her fourth strikeout of the afternoon.
The Bearkats took the lead in the top of the fourth inning with a two-run home run by redshirt sophomore shortstop Morgan Holiday, giving Sam Houston a 2-1 lead.
The Hilltoppers ended the fourth taking a 4-3 lead with an RBI double from sophomore designated hitter Maci Masters and a sacrifice fly from sophomore outfielder Kendle White.
Freshman Erica Houge came into relief in the fifth inning, collecting a strikeout and stranding a Bearkat runner.
Effective defense from Sam Houston gave WKU a 1-2-3 fifth inning.
Houge came back for the sixth inning and delivered a three-up three-down frame.
The Hilltoppers left two runners on base in the sixth inning while trying to hold on to a 3-2 lead.
Two strikeouts from Houge and a 6-3 out closed the game in the seventh inning, giving the Hilltoppers a 3-2 win.
“I thought we threw well in the circle. I thought we did it better in game two than in game one,” Head Coach Amy Tudor said.
In their first matchup of the day against Jacksonville State, the Hilltoppers held the Gamecocks to just four hits, one more than against the Bearkats, and two runs.
“I was surprised at how good I felt coming into that second game,” Houge said. “I felt great there at the end and I think I did pretty well for our team to get that win.”
Houge pitched nine innings in the doubleheader, six against the Gamecocks and three against the Bearkats.
“If she comes in on me, that’s the pitch I want. And she came in on me and that’s where the home run went,” Stinson said.
WKU Softball will continue in the CUSA tournament Friday with a game against LA Tech. First pitch is set for 2:30 p.m.
Sports Reporter David Quintanilla can be reached at [email protected].
