"Overall, I felt our offense did a good job today," opened head coach Amy Tudor. "We put up a lot of runs on the scoreboard. Unfortunately, not enough for game two but we gave ourselves a chance. We look forward to tweaking a few things as we play tomorrow and moving forward."
WKU (3-0) vs. Indiana State (1-2)
WKU 15, INS 9
WKU outlasted the Indiana State Sycamores as the teams combined for 24 runs and 25 hits. The Red and White racked up 15 of those runs – the team's most since Feb. 17, 2018 against Tennessee State.
The Hilltoppers scored runs in five of their seven trips to the plate, including a seven run sixth inning that saw 12 Tops make a plate appearance.
Paige Carter, Taylor Sanders, Sullivan and Maddie Bowlds each recorded three-hit games for WKU. Sanders and Sullivan each tallied four RBI. Carter finished 3-for-4 at the plate with a walk and four runs scored – tying the single-game record for runs scored in a single game by a Hilltopper.
Carter, Sanders and Sullivan each delivered a home run in the contest.
Shelby Nunn earned the win in the circle, pitching 2.2 innings in relief after Sullivan got the nod and worked the game's first three frames. Katie Gardner also pitched 1.1 innings. The trio combined for 10 strikeouts.
WKU (3-1) vs. Kennesaw State (2-4)
KSU 5, WKU 4
WKU Softball struck for four runs in the bottom of the fourth to break the scoreless tie against Kennesaw State. Sanders got the inning going with a one-out base hit before Sullivan recorded her second homer of the day for a 2-0 WKU lead. Smith followed up with a single before Brylee Hage reached on a sac bunt error. TJ Webster would reach on a throwing error that allowed Hage and Smith to score for the 4-0 advantage.
Kennesaw State got on the board in the top of the sixth with a solo home run before adding four more unanswered runs in the top of the seventh to take a 5-4 lead.
The Tops were able to get the tying run 60 feet from home with just one out after Carter drew a hit by pitch to open the bottom of the seventh. Jordan Ridge would pinch run, moving to second on a passed ball and to third on a groundout by Taylor Davis.
Kelsey Aikey took the complete-game loss, moving to 1-1 on the season. The redshirt-senior struck out six against four walks.
COMING UP
WKU vs. Indiana State
Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021 | 10 a.m. CT
Jim Frost Stadium | Chattanooga, Tenn.
NOTES & RECORDS
- Head Coach Amy Tudor is in her 17th season as a head coach – eighth on The Hill – this season with a career record of 422-350-2.
- WKU Softball now owns a 2-3 all-time record against Kennesaw State, winning the first-ever meeting in 2012 before falling to the Owls in 2017 and 2019 each by scores of 2-1 before splitting this weekend.
- WKU came out victorious in the first of four meetings with Indiana State across the span of nine days, with two neutral-site meetings taking place this weekend in Chattanooga. The Tops lead the all-time series against the Sycamores 11-2.
- Paige Carter finished 3-for-4 at the plate with a walk and four runs scored – tying the single-game record for runs scored in a single game by a Hilltopper in the Tops' win over Indiana State.
- Fifteen runs in a single game is the most by WKU Softball since Feb. 17, 2018 against Tennessee State.
- In the most recent RPI rankings (March 2020), WKU came in at No. 31 while Kennesaw State is at 54 and Indiana State comes in at 133.
How to Follow the Hilltoppers: For complete information on WKU Softball, follow the team on Twitter at @WKUSoftball, Instagram @WKU_Softball and Facebook /WKUSoftball.
