WKU Softball defeated Louisiana Tech before falling to Jacksonville State in the Conference USA semifinals. 

The Hilltoppers fought off two win-or-go-home games before falling to the Gamecocks for the fourth time this season. 

WKU played a double-header for the second day in a row having to play out of the loser bracket.

Game One

WKU defeated LA Tech 5-2 in a win-or-go-home situation, advancing to the semifinal.

The Hilltoppers rode a three run fourth inning to secure their win.

The Hilltoppers got the bats going quickly, finishing the day hitting .346. Redshirt senior Jenna Blanton and sophomore Anna Mauck led the way for WKU going 2-4 and 2-3 at the plate. Blanton led the way with two RBIs on the day.

Sophomore Erica Houge got the start in the circle, throwing a complete game. Houge contained LA Tech’s scoring despite allowing six hits and three walks. Houge finished the day with two strikeouts.

Both teams wasted no time to get runs on the board, tied 1-1 after the first inning. LA Tech opened the scoring in the top half. WKU answered in the bottom of the first with a run from Blanton. 

The Hilltoppers offense stalled until the fourth inning, allowing the Bulldogs to take a slim 2-1 lead.

The lead did not last very long, with sophomore Katie Murphy placing a perfect bunt scoring junior Kendle White. The offense continued to roll, with a two-run double from Blanton taking a 4-2 lead in the fourth.

WKU found more success in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI double from Mauck scoring sophomore Macy Gregor, extending their lead 5-2. 

Houge shut down the LA Tech offense in the seventh inning, securing the 5-2 victory.

Game Two

WKU fell to Jacksonville State 5-2 in the semifinals, ending their season.

The Hilltoppers could not recover after a four run second inning from the Gamecocks.

Junior Rylan Smith got the start in the circle, going for just 1.2 innings. The Jacksonville State hitters had Smith’s number, as she allowed four runs, five hits and struck out one.

Senior Maddy Wood came in to relieve Smith, going 4.1 innings to finish the game. Wood would silence the JSU bats allowing just one run on four hits and striking out three. 

The Hilltoppers bats continued to be consistent, hitting .227 for the game. All five of WKUs hits came from different players. Despite the five hits, the Hilltoppers could not turn them into runs.

WKU struck first in the first inning off a sacrifice fly from junior Annie White. The lead was quickly diminished after Jacksonville State’s four run second inning.

The Hilltoppers showed life down 5-1 in the seventh inning with a solo home run from sophomore Kennedy Stinson. WKU could not build off it, with two straight groundouts to end the game.

WKU finished their season 19-8 in CUSA and a 39-14 overall record.