BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Day two of the 2018 season saw 20 combined RBI and 27 total runs as WKU needed just five innings to take down Youngstown State 17-6 and six innings to collect a run-rule walk off over Hampton, 10-2. The Hilltoppers have opened the season with a 3-1 record with one game remaining on the slate for Sunday.
"Our run production has been really impressive so far," head coach Amy Tudor shared. "We are getting a lot of contributions from a variety of players in a lot of different ways. Defensively, we had two mishaps but made some phenomenal plays as well. It didn't hurt us because had ample run support. Shelby Nunn showed a few different look from the mound today, which resulted in more strikeouts – she was impressive."
With four triples in four games already in 2018, WKU Softball has already surpassed its total of three from last season. The Hilltoppers have also notched four home runs so far, with a pair off the bat of Kelsey McGuffin. WKU's collective team batting average has climbed to .365 with 46 hits – 18 for extra bases - on the young season.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, Feb. 9 – 11 a.m. CT | vs. Hampton | W, 7-6 (8)
Friday, Feb. 9 – 3 p.m. CT | at Gardner-Webb | L, 5-4
Saturday, Feb. 10 – 9 a.m. CT | vs. Youngstown State | W, 17-6 (6)
Saturday, Feb. 10 – 11 a.m. CT | vs. Hampton | W, 10-2 (6)
Sunday, Feb. 11 – 9 a.m. CT | vs. Hampton | Livestats
GAME 3: WKU 17, YOUNGSTOWN STATE 6 (5 innings)
As the visitors on the scoreboard for the third-straight game, the Red and White struck first and never trailed in their five-inning rout of Youngstown State. Jordan Thomas opened the game with WKU's first hit-by-pitch of the season and has yet to record an at bat in the leadoff spot after collecting walks in both of Friday's opening plate appearances. Thomas went on to steal second and advanced to third as Maddie Bowlds reached base on an infield error. Paige Carter subbed in for Bowlds – who left the game with a foot injury – and proceeded to steal second. Two batters later, Kendall Smith sent her first collegiate home run well over the left-field fence to give WKU a 3-0 advantage.
Youngstown State was able to get a pair of runners on board in the bottom of the frame but the WKU defense took care of business to get the squad back to the dugout.
Carter picked up her first of three RBI in the contest in her first plate appearance with a two-out single that scored Tommi Stowers. After Carter stole second a wild pitch plated Morgan McElroy from third to push WKU's lead to 5-0.
WKU sent 11 batters to the plate in the top of the third frame to put the game out of reach. In total, the Hilltoppers scored seven runs on three hits and four errors in the inning. Carter notched a triple that plated Jordan Vorbrink and Rebekah Engelhardt followed with a sacrifice fly that plated Carter.
A two-run home run by the Penguins in the bottom of the frame cut WKU's lead to 12-2 but the Hilltoppers one-upped YSU the next time at the plate with three more runs. Vorbrink put a tally in the hit column with an RBI double to the wall bringing McGuffin around to score. Thomas and Carter each added RBI singles to push WKU's lead up to 15-2.
Youngstown State added another tally in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 15-3 but WKU struck back again in the next frame for a 14-run advantage at 17-3. The Penguins were able to add three more runs in the bottom of the fifth before WKU closed the book.
WKU's 11-run margin of victory marked its largest since the 2015 season in an 11-0 run-rule win over FIU.
Haylee Towers went 2.1 innings in the circle and left with the lead but didn't pitch the 3.0 required innings for the decision. Towers finished with three strikeouts against four hits and a pair of earned runs. Shelby Nunn took the decision with 1.2 innings tossed in the game including a pair of strikeouts. Cassidy Blackford closed the day in the circle for WKU taking care of the final inning with two punch outs of her own.
GAME 4: WKU 10, HAMPTON 2 (6 innings)
The Hilltoppers grabbed another shortened-game win in the day's second tilt. A run-rule walk off, WKU took down Hampton for the second-straight day in a 10-2 fashion.
Holding the Pirates scoreless in all but the top of the fifth frame, WKU broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the third exploding for five runs. Vorbrink opened the frame with a double before advancing to third on a single by Thomas. After Thomas stole second, a single by Carter scored Vorbrink and moved Thomas to third. Two batters later, Smith knocked an RBI single and advanced to second on the throw home as Thomas scored. Keeping the ball rolling, Brittany Vaughn sent a two-RBI hit to the outfield before Stowers singled through the left side to plate Vaughn.
Scoring at least a run in each of the remaining innings, WKU pushed ahead to 7-0 after four innings thanks to a sacrifice fly by Carter and home run off McGuffin's bat. Hampton plated a pair to open the fifth frame, cutting the lead back to five, but WKU once again responded with a couple tallies.
Engelhardt opened the bottom of the fifth with a single before Stowers stepped u p and knocked a triple to score the runner. McElroy followed with a single to bring Stowers home and push the lead back to seven.
After holding Hampton scoreless in the top of the sixth, Smith drew a lead-off walk and was replaced on the bases with Blackford. Two at bats later, Blackford stole second to move into scoring position. In the box, Stowers sent a fly ball high in the infield towards the third base side that would ultimately end up landing on the ground allowing Blackford to score from 120 feet away to end the game.
Stowers has had WKU's first walk-off hit of the season in both 2017 and 2018 now.
Nunn went the distance in the circle, tossing a gem. The freshman carried a no-hitter into the top of the fifth frame before the Pirates broke it up. Nunn finished with 11 strikeouts in 6.0 innings pitched – more than any Hilltopper pitcher had in any outing last season. Collecting every decision for the Red and White so far Nunn is now 3-1 on her debut campaign.
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