WKU Softball Homestand Continues with Hilltopper Spring Fling Up Next

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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Softball will look to continue to build upon one of the best starts in program history as the team continues its homestand from The Hill with the Holiday Inn Hilltopper Spring Fling on deck for the weekend. The Red and White (11-4), will welcome Austin Peay, Dayton and Evansville to Bowling Green for the three-day outing from the WKU Softball Complex.

WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday – 10 a.m. CT – Austin Peay (A) vs. Evansville (H)
               12:30 p.m. CT – Evansville (A) vs. Dayton (H)
               3 p.m. CT – WKU vs. Austin Peay
               5:30 p.m. CT – WKU vs. Dayton
Saturday – 10 a.m. CT – Dayton (A) vs. Austin Peay (H)
               12:30 p.m. CT – WKU vs. Evansville
               3 p.m. CT – 1 vs. 4
               5:30 p.m. CT – 2 vs. 3
Sunday – 11 a.m. CT – Consolation
               1:30 p.m. CT – Championship

TICKETS & PARKING
Day passes are available to adults for $10 per day and youth (12 & below) passes can be purchased for $5 each. Flexible season ticket packages are available for $25 for 28 vouchers and can be used the Hilltopper Spring Fling in addition to all remaining regular season home games. Spectator parking will be available in the Creason lot (not PS3).

First up on the weekend, the Hilltoppers will host Austin Peay at 3 p.m. CT on Friday. The Governors are 3-5 on the young season with wins over Alabama A&M, Arkansas Pine Bluff and Central Arkansas. WKU is 22-4 all-time against APSU including a 10-4 mark in games played on The Hill. Immediately following Friday's 3 p.m. tilt, the Red and White will take on Dayton at approximately 5:30 p.m. The Flyers are 4-6 on the year entering their Thursday afternoon contest at Kentucky. Dayton has picked up victories over Radford, UNC-Wilmington, UCSB and San Diego on the season. The Hilltoppers are 3-0 in the all-time series with the Flyers, winning the prior meetings in 2004, '13 and '15.

The Hilltoppers' Saturday slate will commence at 12:30 p.m. CT, with a matchup against Evansville (2-11). WKU crossed paths with the Purple Aces in Norman, Okla., last season where the Red and White were winners of the 9-4 decision. WKU is 10-9-1 all-time against Evansville, including a 5-2-1 mark from the WKU Softball Complex.

After the first three weekends of play, WKU Softball has made its mark in several offensive stat categories. As a team, the Hilltoppers lead Conference USA in eight categories (batting average, .349; doubles per game, 2.13; fielding percentage, .975; On-base percentage, .447; scoring, 7.47; slugging percentage, .563; triples per game, .47; win-loss percentage, .733). In the national standings, the Red and White rank in the top 10 in doubles per game (6th), on-base percentage (7th), scoring (8th) and slugging percentage (10th).

Individually, Shelby Nunn ranks seventh in victories with seven already while Maddie Bowlds owns one of just 100 4+ hit performances in a game across the nation. Kelsey Aikey owns one of the 32 no-hitters recorded this year while Jordan Thomas ranks fourth in the country in walks with 1.0 per game.

Playing at home - and in the state of Kentucky - for the first time in 2018, WKU Softball put together a 4-1 weekend in front of its home crowd in last weekend's Hilltopper Classic. Combining for a .324 batting average led by Paige Carter's .533 mark on the tournament, WKU outscored its opposition 29-9. Twelve of the Red and White's 36 hits (36-for-111) went for extra bases while the Tops collected 26 RBI. From the circle, the Hilltopper hurlers notched a combined 1.81 weekend ERA while racking up a combined shutout, two saves and 19 strikeouts. A total of six extra-base hits were allowed.

An 11-4 start in the team's first 15 games marks the best start to a season under head coach Amy Tudor. The program has had three starts of 12-3 (2004, 2009, 2012) and one of 11-4 (2011) in its history. All four of those teams went on to have 30+ win seasons.

With early season tournament play wrapped up following weekend action, WKU will host SIUE for its first of six mid-week non-conference tilts from the WKU Softball Complex. Game time is set for 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 7.

How to Follow the Hilltoppers: For complete information on WKU Softball, follow the team on Twitter at @WKUSoftball, Instagram @WKU_Softball and Facebook /WKUSoftball.

WKU Softball Homestand Continues with Hilltopper Spring Fling Up Next

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Players Mentioned

Kelsey Aikey

Maddie Bowlds

Paige Carter

Shelby Nunn

Jordan Thomas