WKU Softball prevented the sweep in the final day of the weekend series against Liberty. The Hilltoppers had 24 hits in the series, they were unable to put runs on the board, only having eight through the weekend.
The Flames took games one and two 3-2 and 4-0 on the first two days of the series, before the Hilltoppers answered on the final day with a 6-2 win.
The Hilltoppers struggled in the circle throughout the weekend, allowing fifteen hits for Liberty and striking out only five batters. Sophomore Erica Houge pitched two games on the weekend and did not earn a strikeout.
Game One
Despite outhitting the Lady Flames 9-3, the Hilltoppers fell 3-2 to open the weekend.
WKU left a total of seven runners on base, including two runners after the third, fourth and sixth innings.
Down 3-1 in the top of the sixth, back-to-back singles gave the Hilltoppers momentum and put the tying run on first base. A single from sophomore second baseman Anna Mauck should have loaded the bases, but ambitious base-running from sophomore third baseman Katie Murphy ended the inning. Murphy ignored Head Coach Amy Tudor’s stop signal at third base and was tagged out at home.
Liberty struck first, getting on the board in the bottom of the second with an RBI sacrifice fly to center field. The Lady Flames kept firing in the bottom of the third with another RBI sacrifice fly and an RBI single to go up 3-0.
Houge, who threw a complete game, sat the remaining 10 Liberty batters down in order, keeping the game within reach. The right-hander finished the night allowing three runs on three hits and walking four.
WKU prevented a shutout defeat with an RBI double to left center field from Murphy that scored junior shortstop Morgan Sharpe.
Kendle White’s home run in the top of the seventh gave the Hilltoppers hope, but it was the last run of the game.
Game Two
With yet another three hits, Liberty was able to secure a 4-0 shutout win over WKU on Saturday.
Junior right-hander Rylan Smith started in the circle and threw another complete game for the Hilltoppers. She struggled to find the strike zone, an issue unlike her. She walked a season-high nine Liberty batters.
Similar to Friday, WKU’s offense struggled to capitalize, leaving a total of 11 runners on base. The Hilltoppers went 2-10 with runners on and 2-8 with runners in scoring position.
Once on base paths, the Hilltoppers had a few hiccups. In the top of the second, Kendle White hit a single to center field, but she was tagged out attempting to stretch a double.
The other running blunder came in the third frame. With runners on first and second, Sharpe singled to right field and attempted to go to second. However, Liberty cut off the throw home, causing runners to retreat and Sharpe to be tagged out at first.
An RBI double to center field in the bottom of the first got the scoring going early for the Lady Flames. They continued that momentum in the bottom of the second, hitting an RBI single up the middle to extend their lead to 3-0. Liberty’s final run came from an RBI triple to right-center field in the bottom of the fifth.
Saturday’s defeat secured the series loss for the Hilltoppers.
Game Three
WKU prevented the sweep, defeating Liberty 6-2 in game three.
Batting was a team effort with the Hilltoppers hitting .321 on the day. Junior Maci Masters and Mauck lead the way, hitting two for three. Masters hit one of the two home runs on the day.
The Hilltoppers struggled in the circle, allowing nine hits. Houge pitched the entirety of the game, allowing two runs, three walks and no strikeouts. Hogue is now 16-4 with today’s win.
WKU struck first with a two-run home run for Masters in the second inning. The Flames answered back with a two-run home run of their own, tying the score 2-2.
Neither team could get an upper hand, tied 2-2 going into the fifth inning. With sophomore utility Macy Gregor on second, freshman infielder Lauren Satterly stepped up for her second home run of the season, giving the Hilltoppers a 4-2 lead.
The momentum continued for the Hilltoppers into the sixth inning. The Hilltoppers took advantage of Liberty’s errors, scoring two more runs to take a 6-2 lead.
The Hilltoppers continue their road trip with a midweek game against Evansville on April 15 at 5 p.m.
