SERIES INFORMATION
Friday, April 13 – WKU at UAB – 3 p.m. CT | UAB 4, WKU 2
- WKU at UAB – 5 p.m. CT | UAB 3, WKU 2
Saturday, April 14 – WKU at UAB – 10 a.m. CT | Livestats | CUSA.tv
GAME 40: UAB 4, WKU 2
WKU was the first to strike in the opening game of the series as Rebekah Engelhardt sent a one-out triple to right field to get the Hilltoppers into the hit column in the second inning. Morgan McElroy went on to reach on a fielder's choice bunt before stealing second. With one away, Kendall Smith stepped into the box and sent a double to right field to score both WKU runners for the 2-0 advantage.
UAB threatened in the bottom of the second and third frames, but Kelsey Aikey and the Hilltopper defense were able to get back to the dugout unscathed both times. Again in the bottom of the fourth, the Blazers had a runner on with no outs before the next UAB batter touched the ball out of the box and Engelhardt followed by handling a liner at the hot corner and fired to Maddie Bowlds at first to double up the runner and get back to the dugout once again.
In the bottom of the sixth, UAB broke into the scoring column on an unearned sacrifice fly. With the bases loaded and two outs, Aikey recorded her second strikeout of the day to limit the damage.
Jordan Thomas drew her second walk of the game with two outs in the top of the seventh but ultimately marked the sixth runner stranded by the Red and White on the day. With just two hits entering the bottom of the seventh UAB doubled its offensive production. Down to its final strike, UAB struck for a three-run home run to claim the first game of the series.
Aikey worked her fifth complete game of the season, moving to 10-5 with the loss. The sophomore tossed 140 pitches – 87 for strikes – while striking out a pair.
GAME 41: UAB 3, WKU 2
Game two saw starting pitcher Shelby Nunn retire the first seven Blazer batters before the hosts finally beat on an infield single for a runner, who would ultimately end up stranded. UAB tacked on its second hit in the form of a double in the bottom of the fourth but the runner again ended up stranded.
After a leadoff walk by Paige Carter in the top of the fifth, the sophomore moved into scoring position on a Brittany Vaughn single. Tommi Stowers stepped up for a pinch hit and reached on a fielder's choice that saw Carter beat the throw to third. Next in the box, Smith sent a foul ball down towards the left field bullpen that allowed Carter to score for the RBI sacrifice fly.
UAB responded an inning later with a three-run sixth frame. Two runs were ultimately earned as the Blazers tallied three of their four hits in the inning.
Not going down without a fight, Engelhardt knocked a one-out double in the top of the seventh to keep the Hilltoppers alive. The junior would come around to score as Vaughn reached on an error to pull the visitors within one. Vaughn made it to second on the error and advanced to third on a wild pitch. With just one out, Haylee Towers stepped in for a pinch hit and laid down a bunt to induce a throw to first for the second out before Vaughn was tagged out at the plate attempting to tie the game.
Nunn went the distance in the circle for the Hilltopper squad and moved to 13-10 on the season with the loss. The freshman tossed 6.0 innings, allowing four hits, three runs – two earned – while striking out a pair.
Game three of the weekend series is now slated to start at 10 a.m. CT from the Mary Bowers Field in Birmingham, Ala.
TOPPER NOTES:
- Game one saw Rebekah Engelhardt knock her team-leading third triple of the season. Her three-baser was the Hilltoppers' 12th of the year. Engelhardt finished 2-for-3 in the game for her sixth multi-hit game of the year and 11th of her career.
- WKU is now 6-8 all-time against UAB. This weekend's series is the first time the sides have met in Birmingham for a C-USA slate.
