| WKU Softball at Middle Tennessee | |
| Dates | Saturday, May 2 - Sunday, May 3 |
| Location | Murfreesboro, Tenn. | Blue Raider Softball Field |
| Tickets | GoBlueRaiders.com |
| Live Video | GoBlueRaiders.com | C-USA Digital Network |
| LiveStats | GoBlueRaiders.com |
| Game Notes | WKU Game Notes |
BOWLING GREEN, Ky.— Looking to rebound from an offensive slump in a two-game losing streak, the WKU softball team (29-11, 14-4) has a chance to turn it around in its final regular-season games at Middle Tennessee (21-27, 4-17) this weekend.
Saturday starts at 2 p.m. CT with a doubleheader before the series finishes on Sunday with a noon CT first pitch.
Fans can watch the game on GoBlueRaiders.com or the C-USA Digital Network with a paid subscription or follow with live stats on Middle Tennessee athletics' site. In-game updates are available on Twitter via @WKUSoftball.
- Game Notes -
LAST TIME OUT
It was another pitchers' duel for WKU at Louisville on Wednesday; however, a solo home run would be enough for the Cardinals to win 1-0. WKU had one hit against the Cards, as Shawna Sadler sent a single up the middle in the fourth, her fourth career hit against the in-state foe for most among returning Lady Toppers.
Miranda Kramer gave up three hits, three walks and struck out three in the game. The senior also didn't give up a hit until the fourth inning while the other two hits came in the sixth inning. The three strikeouts was a season low for Kramer who averages 13.2 strikeouts per seven innings pitched, a nation's best. Her lowest before the game at Louisville came against No. 7 Michigan with five fanned batters in four innings of work. It's the fourth time this season that Kramer hasn't hit double-digit strikeouts out of 29 starts.
SERIES VS. MIDDLE TENNESSEE
WKU holds a slight advantage over Middle Tennessee in the all-time series at 28-23 since their first meeting in 2000, including 10-9 in Murfreesboro. The Lady Toppers have won the last seven contests. Last season the teams met as non-conference foes for the first time, as WKU won 10-4 in Bowling Green and 4-2 in eight frames in Tennessee.
WKU's four returning starters all have above a .300 average against the Blue Raiders. Preslie Cruce has 10 hits and nine RBI in eight games versus the regional foe while Shawna Sadler has six hits. Brooke Holloway and Jacqueline McGill had three hits each in 2014's pair of games.
CHANCE AT CONFERENCE USA REGULAR-SEASON TITLE
With its spot secured at the Conference USA Championship next week in Miami, seeding is still up for grabs. WKU leads the league with a 14-4 record and has a chance to seal the No. 1 spot and the regular-season title with a sweep of Middle Tennessee. UAB is the closest to the Lady Tops, sitting a half game back at 14-5 and traveling to Marshall this weekend. Louisiana Tech holds at 12-6 while Florida Atlantic, Marshall and UTSA have seven losses each.
WKU has one championship in its 16-year history, winning the Sun Belt Conference regular-season championship in 2013 with a 20-3 mark. The Lady Toppers fell short in the tournament championship, but went on to earn an at-large bid to make the program's first-ever NCAA Regional appearance.
WKU AT NO. 31 IN NCAA RPI
WKU stays at No. 31 in this week's release of the NCAA RPI. The Lady Toppers are the highest ranked team in C-USA, as 10 teams from the SEC rank above WKU, including two of 2015's opponents in Tennessee (11) and Kentucky (22). Others above WKU include seven Pac-12 teams, four from the Big 12, three from the ACC and two from Big Ten, Sun Belt and Colonial. Against the field, WKU is 4-6 against the top 50, 15-10 against the top 100 and 22-11 versus the top 113.
KRAMER NAMED ESPNW NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK FOR SECOND TIME
Becoming the first player to earn the distinction twice, Miranda Kramer was named espnW's National Player of the Week after a beyond stellar performance in the circle last week. Kramer tossed four complete games, notched her second no-hitter of the season, recorded two 18-strikeout performances and set the new Conference USA single-game strikeout record. She garnered her seventh C-USA Pitcher of the Week honor, tying the league record for most in a season.
The Iowa native was also awarded the national accolade after the season's opening weekend after Kramer did not surrender a single run, allowed just four hits and struck out 38 batters, holding her opponents to a miniscule .070 batting average in 18 innings of work. Kramer's action was highlighted by a 19-strikeout no-hitter against Troy. Her 19 strikeouts set the school record for individual and team strikeouts in a game while ranking second-most in Conference USA history. It tied for third-most in a seven-inning game in NCAA history. She was also named the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Pitcher of the Week for her efforts.
Pitching all four games last week, Kramer finished with 59 strikeouts, nine hits, one earned run and a .083 opponent batting average in 33.2 innings of work. Since the final game at FIU on April 19, Kramer threw 30.1 consecutive innings without an earned run allowed while she held Charlotte hitless through 14.2 straight innings.
LOOKING TO CLAIM SEVENTH C-USA SERIES
After its opening series with Louisiana Tech was cancelled, WKU continued to take care of business, claiming all six of this season's league series. The Lady Toppers swept two opponents in North Texas and Southern Miss while going 2-1 against Marshall, Florida Atlantic, FIU and Charlotte. WKU looks to take series number seven this weekend at Middle Tennessee. The Blue Raiders have won the series six times out of the 12 years as members of the Sun Belt Conference while tying with WKU once.
