WKU Softball dropped its final regular season series at Delaware this weekend.
The losses drop the Hilltoppers to 37-12 overall and 19-8 in Conference USA, but they prevented the series sweep with a redemptive win on Saturday. That victory secured WKU’s double bye and second-place ranking for the CUSA postseason tournament.
WKU outhit Delaware 23-11 over the weekend, but the Hilltoppers’ run production was halted as a total of 18 runners were left on base.
Game One
WKU dropped the series-opener 6-3 on Thursday afternoon.
The Hilltoppers struggled to find depth within their offense. The bottom third of the lineup produced four out of WKU’s five hits on the day. Through the first four innings, the Blue Hens retired the Hilltoppers in four batters or less, opening the door for Delaware to take control.
Sophomore right-hander Erica Houge earned the game-one start, but the Blue Hens figured her out early. They took a 3-0 lead in the opening frame off a bases-loaded walk and a two-RBI single. A solo home run in the bottom of the third extended Delaware’s lead to 4-0.
The Hilltoppers were finally able to plate one in the top of the fifth with an RBI bunt by sophomore second baseman Anna Mauck.
Senior right-hander Maddy Wood came in as relief in the bottom of the sixth. She held it down in the circle, but WKU’s defense started to crumble. Three consecutive errors and an RBI sacrifice fly extended the Blue Hens’ lead to 6-1.
The Hilltoppers made a comeback attempt in the top of the seventh. Back-to-back RBI singles brought them within three, but the deficit was too much to overcome.
Mauck finished the night leading WKU’s offense, going 2-3 at the plate with two RBIs.
Game Two
WKU dropped the series with its 4-2 loss to Delaware Friday afternoon.
The Hilltoppers’ offense was much more productive in game two, totaling 10 hits. However, they were unable to capitalize, hitting just 3-16 with runners on.
Head Coach Amy Tudor played around with the lineup on Friday. She moved redshirt senior Jenna Blanton to leadoff and junior left fielder Kendle White down to the five-hole, and the adjustment paid off. Blanton went 1-3, and Kendle White went 2-3 with an RBI.
Junior right-hander Rylan Smith started in the circle for the Hilltoppers for game two. She threw five complete innings, during which she allowed four earned runs on four hits and struck out four.
The Hilltoppers got going early, scoring two runs in the opening frame off an RBI single from shortstop Morgan Sharpe and an RBI double from Kendle White.
Delaware responded quickly in the bottom of the second. A two-RBI double and an RBI single gave the Blue Hens a 3-2 lead.
The matchup went quiet until the bottom of the fifth when Delaware’s senior catcher Sydney Shaffer hit a home run, the last run of the game for either team.
Just like in game one, Wood came in as relief in the bottom of the sixth. She retired the Blue Hens in order with two strikeouts and a groundout, but she could not prevent WKU’s 4-2 loss.
Game Three
The Hilltoppers started looking like themselves again on Saturday, securing a 6-1 win to prevent the series sweep.
Blanton executed her leadoff hitting role perfectly, going 4-4 at the plate to lead WKU’s energetic offense.
Houge earned the start again in game three. She threw the first complete game of the weekend for WKU, allowing four hits while striking out four.
The Hilltoppers wasted no time getting on the board, as Blanton plated one in the opening frame off a Delaware fielding error. The Blue Hens responded, scoring in the bottom half of the first on an error by WKU’s third baseman Katie Murphy.
WKU continued its offensive momentum through the second. In back-to-back at-bats, the Hilltoppers scored three runs to regain and extend their lead to 4-1.
Houge continued to perplex Delaware’s hitters, as the sophomore stranded four Blue Hens across the middle innings.
The Hilltoppers were able to add some insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Annie White hit a two-RBI home run to cement WKU’s 6-1 victory.
The win puts WKU in second place for the CUSA postseason tournament starting Wednesday, May 6. The Hilltoppers will not play until Thursday, May 7, as the win also secured them a double bye.
