WKU Softball concluded its final home stand of the season with a sweep over Kennesaw State.

During the Hilltoppers 7-2 win on Sunday, they broke the program-record for most runs scored in a season with 291.

“We have a quality pitching staff, great defense and offense. With power, speed and great pitching I think you are going to win a lot of ball games,” Head Coach Amy Tudor said.

The Hilltoppers poured in the runs, outscoring the Owls 33-9 across the three games.

“Pitch selection is key. We want to swing at pitches we are looking for and not swinging at marginal pitches unless we have to,” Tudor said.

Everyone got in on the action this weekend, led by junior infielder Morgan Sharpe going 5-9 with four RBI’s.

With the series win, WKU finishes the season with a program-best 26-1 at home and undefeated in conference play. The Hilltoppers have won five of their six conference series at home.

“The crowd itself is how we are so successful. They make it feel like home for everyone. It just feels like every home game is special,” senior right-hander Maddy Wood said.

Game One

Despite rainy conditions, WKU defeated KSU 13-5 to open the series. The win improved the Hilltoppers to 24-1 at home, the best home record in program history.

The Hilltoppers’ offense was consistent, scoring in each of the six innings played and going 10-26 at the plate. WKU’s hitting was poised in high-pressure moments, hitting 4-9 with two outs and 6-14 with runners in scoring position.

After two innings, the Hilltoppers took a 3-0 lead after three consecutive doubles and a solo shot from junior left fielder Kendle White, but the Owls responded in the top of the third. A two-RBI homer and a fielding error by WKU’s Sharpe evened the score at 3-3.

The Hilltoppers regained the lead in the bottom of the third thanks to a three-RBI home run by junior infielder Maci Masters. A wild pitch by KSU’s second pitcher of the night scored sophomore third baseman Katie Murphy to put the Hilltoppers up 7-3.

The rain picked up at the top of the fourth, making it harder for sophomore starter Erica Houge to get a good pitching grip. Of the eight hitters she faced in the inning, seven of them reached base. An RBI single and a bases-loaded walk brought the Owls within two.

Houge retired seven of the remaining eight KSU batters she faced, building momentum for WKU’s offense. The sophomore finished the night throwing a complete game and allowing two earned runs on seven hits for her 20th win of the season. 

“That really just shows her grit (and) her toughness,” Tudor said about Houge’s performance despite the weather.

A KSU throwing error and a flyout from WKU’s junior first baseman Annie White brought in two more runs for the Hilltoppers.

A KSU throwing error and a WKU sacrifice fly brought in two more Hilltopper runs, and a four-run bottom of the sixth gave WKU the run-rule win. In three consecutive at-bats, the Hilltoppers scored four runs to earn the 13-5 victory.

Kendle White led WKU’s offense, going 2-4 at the plate with a home run, a double and three RBI. Her homer was her 10th of the season, joining Masters and Annie White in single-season double-digit home runs.

“I’ve been working a lot with our hitting coach and Coach (Tudor) on creating power,” Kendle White said. “Last year, I thought I was more of a gap hitter, and this year I came in and I was told that I can do way more than just hitting gap hits.”

Game Two

WKU secured the series win with a 13-2 five-inning victory Saturday. 

The Hilltoppers continued their clutch hitting, going 6-18 overall and 4-9 with runners in scoring position. Leading the way was freshman catcher Lauren Satterly, who went 1-2 at the plate with three RBI.

Junior Rylan Smith started in the circle, throwing four innings. She allowed one earned run on three hits and struck out seven. 

After two scoreless innings, the Owls took their first lead of the weekend in top of the third with an RBI single and an RBI fly out in foul territory. 

WKU wasted no time responding in the bottom of the third. After two consecutive walks, Satterly singled, and two errors by KSU allowed her to come home behind Annie White and Sharpe.

“We were down at that point, and I just knew that I had to score the runners…(We were) able to read the errors that they made and be able to score something that I think really got the energy up,” Satterly said.

The Owls’ mistake-ridden defense in the bottom of the fourth allowed the Hilltoppers to score a whopping 10 runs, their second-most runs in a single inning this season. KSU’s blunders resulted in 14 WKU plate appearances.

“Our speed is one of our biggest assets. I know the home-run ball has been talked about a lot, but that other part of our game is just as vital for us to be successful,” Tudor said.

Wood replaced Smith for the fifth and final inning. WKU’s lone senior had not played in nearly a month due to injury. She allowed three hits and struck out the last KSU batter swinging, good for her 100th career strikeout. Her performance secured the run-rule victory for the Hilltoppers.

“(It was) great to see her back. She’s overcome an injury…(I’m) really happy she got in the game,” Tudor said about Wood.

Game Three

WKU completed the sweep with a 7-2 win over Kennesaw State in game three.

Wood got the start on senior day, throwing 6.5 innings, striking out two and allowing four hits, a walk and two runs. 

Wood would exit in the sixth to a standing ovation in her final home game of her career.

“The first time I stepped on campus, it felt like home. I wouldn’t change it for the world. I’ve loved this experience, it has been the best four years of my life,” Wood said.

Houge came in to relieve Wood, finishing with two strikeouts and allowing one hit on with zero earned runs.

The Hilltoppers saw production in the first four innings, including three runs in the fourth en route to the win. 

WKU hit .333 on the day, led by redshirt senior Jenna Blanton and Sharpe going 2-4. The Hilltoppers stayed poised, drawing eight walks.

Sharpe got the scoring started, with an RBI single in the first inning. The runs continued to come for WKU with a sacrifice fly from Kendle White and an RBI single from Blanton gave the Hilltoppers a 3-0 lead.

Sophomore Kennedy Stinson had a sacrifice fly in the third inning, adding cushion to the Hilltoppers lead and breaking another program-record. 

“We have a quality pitching staff, great defense and offense. With power, speed and great pitching I think you are going to win a lot of ball games,” Tudor said.

The defense stayed strong behind the pitching staff with just one error.

Kennesaw State stayed alive, with an RBI double and a sacrifice fly from junior Hannah Harvey and sophomore Ana Gore in the sixth inning. 

Houge slammed the door on the Owls comeback chances with two strikeouts in the seventh inning.

“The dimensions are all the same. We just need to focus on what we do well and maintain our game,” Tudor said. 

The Hilltoppers will finish out their season with a trip to Delaware for a regular season series before the Conference USA tournament.