WKU Softball was eliminated from the Conference USA Championship Friday afternoon after a 6-4 extra innings loss to LA Tech.
Defensive struggles plagued the Hilltoppers all day, giving up 14 hits, six walks, and committing three errors.
“It’s a learning lesson, I think they did a good job at fighting back with our backs against the wall,” said Head Coach Amy Tudor
Things didn’t fare better at the plate. The Hilltoppers had just 9 hits, while striking out four times and leaving ten runners on base. WKU hit 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position,
“It’s something we’ll work on about moving forward, and we’ll have some more sticks in the lineup next year that will be helpful,” said Head Coach Amy Tudor
LA Tech found base runners in the first inning with back-to-back walks but couldn’t bring them home. After a one-out double, it left another runner on base in the second inning.
WKU found its first base runners in the second inning, leaving two on base after being unable to find a hit with a runner in scoring position.
The Bulldogs broke the deadlock in the third inning with an RBI hit from redshirt freshman catcher Addison Snyder, giving LA Tech a 1-0 lead.
The Hilltoppers responded in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single from sophomore first baseman Annie White and a sacrifice fly from freshman Kennedy Stinson, giving WKU a 2-1 lead.
Freshman Erica Houge came into relief in the fourth inning, and after two defensive miscues, LA Tech scored two runs off a bases-loaded single from senior Claire Raley, giving the Bulldogs a 3-2 lead.
After an overturned out at second base, the Hilltoppers went three-up, three-down in the bottom of the fourth inning.
In the top of the fifth inning, with a Bulldog base runner on third, a groundout turned into a great double play at the plate, keeping the score at 3-2.
WKU stranded another runner in scoring position in the bottom of the fifth inning.
LA Tech extended its lead in the top of the sixth with an RBI single from redshirt sophomore Regan Marchant, giving the Bulldogs a 4-2 lead.
The Hilltoppers tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Their first run came in off an RBI single from senior catcher Randi Drinnon, followed by junior pinch runner Anniston Bray coming home off a wild pitch.
Smith came back into the circle at the top of the seventh inning, stranding two base runners to keep the score 4-4.
WKU left bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, and the game was sent into extra innings.
Junior Maddy Wood came in relief at the top of the eighth inning. An error in the infield gave LA Tech the advantage and a 5-4 lead.
The Hilltoppers left two on the base path at the bottom of the eighth inning, giving the Bulldogs the 5-4 victory.
