WKU Softball swept the weekend in its Conference USA opener against Missouri State in three games at the WKU Softball Complex, setting the record for best start in school history at 18-3.

“Obviously we are going to enjoy today, because today is today,” Head Coach Amy Tudor said. ” We will practice and get back to work, you never want to get complacent; we challenge them all year long.”

On Friday, the Hilltoppers defeated the Bears in a doubleheader, winning 4-3 in a walkoff and an 8-0 six-inning run-rule in the nightcap. WKU continued its hot start with a 6-1 win Sunday afternoon.

Redshirt sophomore Jenna Blanton led the Hilltoppers on the weekend, finishing 7-10 at the plate and three RBI’s.

“She (Jenna) is a great athlete, she can do a lot of different things,” Tudor said. “She has a lot of God-given talent, but has a great work ethic to match that.”

The pitching staff for the Hilltoppers continues to be superb with the one-two punch of senior Maddy Wood and junior Rylan Smith.

“They have done a great job of working together. They are all a little different,” Tudor said.

Day 1 

A walkoff single from Jenna Blanton completed a comeback victory for WKU in game one of the Friday doubleheader, and the momentum powered a second victory in game two.

The Hilltoppers trailed 3-0 entering the seventh inning in game one, with WKU hitters combining for three hits through six. The WKU offense totaled five in the final inning to get the victory. Freshman Lauren Satterly pinch hit to start the scoring with the first hit of her career, junior

Kendle White brought the Hilltoppers within one and Blanton walked it off.

Blanton had a monstrous day at the plate, with a .700 batting average, including the walkoff in game one. 

Sophomore right-hander Erica Houge put together a strong day in the circle in game one, allowing just four hits and striking out six. However, three of Missouri State’s hits were home runs, their only runs of the game. Houge earned her ninth win of the season.

Game two was a complete role reversal from game one, as the Hilltoppers scored seven runs due to home runs from sophomore Katie Murphy, Kendle White and junior Annie White.

Smith put up a dominant performance in game two, totaling a season-high eight strikeouts, while allowing zero runs and just two hits. 

The wins tied the Hilltoppers’ best start in team history at 17-3, and tied the longest win streak in team history at 12. 

“I think we’ve matured,” Tudor said. “We got Jenna Blanton back this year. A lot of our young players also got a lot of experience so I think that’s paying off now.”

Day 2 

A late fifth-inning surge gave the Hilltoppers a lift in the third game against Missouri State.

The Hilltoppers struck first with an RBI single from Annie White in the first inning, driving in Blanton from third after she got the bats started with a triple.

Wood started in the circle for the Hilltoppers, throwing nearly perfect through four innings. In the fifth, she allowed three hits and the lone run for Missouri State. 

The Hilltoppers looked to their bullpen as Smith came out in relief. She went to work immediately, getting a flyout and a strikeout to strand two players on base heading into the bottom of the fifth inning.

In just two innings of work, Smith finished with four strikeouts and faced just eight batters.

“The neat thing about our pitching staff, is they can start and they can relieve. It is just a different mindset to start a game and then relieve a game,” Tudor said.

The Bears could not solve the pitching from Smith, who did not allow any hits over the last two innings.

The Hilltoppers punched right back in the bottom of the fifth, getting started by Blanton yet again. She hit a hard shot to the Bears’ shortstop that got in the outfield, scoring a runner and getting to second. 

Annie White would find grass for a two-RBI single to extend the Hilltoppers lead to 4-1 heading into the top of the sixth. 

The bats stayed hot for the Hilltoppers in the sixth inning with a solo rocket from junior Maci Masters, clinking off the third story of the parking structure. 

Junior Morgan Sharpe also added to her RBI total, with an RBI triple to give WKU a 6-1 lead.

The Hilltoppers’ pitching would close out the game with a three-up-three-down seventh inning, cementing their best start in program history.

WKU will continue its home stand Tuesday night against Eastern Kentucky University.