Tops Headed for EKU to Close 12-Game Road Stretch

WKU Game Notes

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Fresh off a Conference USA series sweep at FIU, WKU Softball will turn its focus to a midweek non-conference matchup at Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday. The Hilltoppers own an 18-5 overall record and will be looking to improve on their 15-5 non-conference reading. Eastern Kentucky enters Wednesday's 3 p.m. CT matchup at Gertrude Hood Field with a 13-9 record.

MIDWEEK INFORMATION
Wednesday, March 20 – at Eastern Kentucky – 3 p.m. CT | Livestats | ESPN +

Wednesday's tilt from Richmond, Ky., will mark the Hilltoppers' 12^th-straight game away from home. Through the first 11 contests, the Red and White have posted an 8-3 record including its sweep of C-USA East foe FIU. During that stretch, WKU has out-hit its opponents 87-38 and leads the batting average comparison .295-.154. The Hilltopper hitters have struck for an average of 4.24 earned runs per game while WKU's arms have held the opposition to a 1.98 ERA.

WKU leads the all-time series with Eastern Kentucky by a slim 12-11 reading. The sides have split a doubleheader each of the past two seasons. The Hilltoppers are 5-4 in games that take place in Richmond.

The lone common opponent between the Hilltoppers and Colonels this season has been Western Illinois. WKU claimed its series with the Leathernecks 2-1 while EKU won a 4-3 10-inning affair over WIU.

In true road games this season, WKU has posted a 4-2 record with the losses coming at Kennesaw State and Lipscomb. Across those six games, six Hilltoppers are hitting above .300 led by Shannon Plese's 10-for-20 line while WKU is hitting .306 as a team. All three WKU pitchers own an ERA of 3.00 or better in such outings and combine for a collective 2.58 reading.

Currently on a three-game win streak, the Hilltoppers have worked themselves into a groove on the bases, successfully stealing 53-of-60 bags. WKU's 2.30 stolen bases per game leads Conference USA and ranks 13^th across the country. Plese (12-for-13) and Rebekah Engelhardt (10-for-11) have already reached double-digit steals on the season. As a team, WKU has recorded at least one steal in 21-of-23 games this season.

Following Wednesday's tilt, WKU will return home for seven of its next eight games. This weekend, the Hilltoppers will resume C-USA play with Charlotte (9-14; 2-4 C-USA) slated to visit The Hill for a three-game series.

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

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Players Mentioned

Rebekah Engelhardt

Shannon Plese