MIAMI - Despite taking a 4-2 loss in its Conference USA regular-season finale to [RV] FIU, WKU Softball has clinched a spot in the C-USA Tournament. After owning a 2-0 lead following their first trip to the plate, the Hilltoppers struggled to sustain offensive power the rest of the way as the Panthers tallied four unanswered runs.
"My plan today was to put some more lefties in the line up to face Saile's curveball and we were able to do a great job bunting, walking and finding a way on base," head coach Amy Tudor opened. "I was really proud that the team was able to put up two runs early on them."
WKU has clinched its first post-season appearance since the 2015 Hilltopper squad won the C-USA Tournament. This marks the team's second appearance in the league's tournament since joining prior to the 2015 campaign. Additionally, the Red and White are now slated to appear in a conference post-season tournament for the 16th time while head coach Amy Tudor is set to lead her third squad in four years on The Hill.
"Being as young as we are and trying to teach what we're doing with just one player on the team that's been to the post-season before, it's come down to the team believing and working hard," Tudor stated. "It's been fun trying to figure out the pieces to the puzzle. I'm proud of this team and really excited to see what we can do moving forward."
WKU's first two batters of the day got on board and both came around to score before the inning's close. Kara Brewer led off with a walk before moving to third on a Brittany Vaughn bunt that resulted in FIU's first error of the frame. With both Hilltoppers in scoring position, Jordan Mauch sent a one-out RBI single through the left side for a 1-0 WKU lead. As Mauch stole second, she induced a throw down, allowing Vaughn to steal home, beating the throw.
FIU struck back in the bottom of the first, plating a Panther on a sacrifice fly that carried towards the foul line in left field. Kelsey Aikey recorded the first two outs of the frame in the circle before Downing stepped into a two-on, two-out situation and induced a fly out to centerfield.
In the bottom of the second, the Panthers plated three runs on two outs to grab the lead from the Hilltoppers.
Kelsey McGuffin dropped a single into shallow left-center field in the top of the sixth to bring Mauch to the plate with two down. The junior connected on a line drive to right field that the FIU outfielder was able to catch up to.
Downing tossed the final 5.1 innings in the outing, moving to 14-12 on the year with the decision. The senior struck out three Panther batters, two looking.
"I thought Kat [Downing] threw well all weekend and was able to keep their batters off balance," Tudor shared. "She did a good job and had a lot of fight and composure on the mound, battling the wind."
WKU will close out its regular season on Wednesday in Richmond, Kentucky, as the Hilltoppers visit Eastern Kentucky for a doubleheader.
