GAME 19
WKU (14-4) vs. Kentucky (23-2)
March 24, 2021 | 6 p.m. CT
Watch: https://www.facebook.com/GOHSSN/live
Livestats: https://wkusports.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary
WKU Softball Complex | Bowling Green, Ky.
BROADCAST
Watch: HSSN on Facebook – play-by-play with Brett Williams
CUSA.tv for anyone who elects to subscribe
Game Notes: WKU | Kentucky
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
- Wednesday, March 17 – 6 p.m. vs. Kentucky | Bowling Green, Ky.
- Sunday, March 30 – 6 p.m. vs. Lipscomb | Bowling Green, Ky.
- Thursday, April 1 – Noon CT at Marshall | Huntington, W.Va.
TOP STORYLINES
- WKU Softball has faced off against in-state foe Kentucky 24 times in program history. The Wildcats lead the all-time series 16-8 but the Hilltoppers claimed the most recent meeting between the sides (2019 in Lexington) in a 4-1 decision when UK was ranked No. 17.
- Entering Wednesday's game, the Wildcats were featured in all four NCAA Softball Rankings, coming in as high as No. 7 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll. UK comes in at 10th in the latest ESPN ranks, 11th in the D1 Softball poll and 15th in the most recent Softball America listings.
- This season, WKU has faced three Power 5 squads. The Tops have taken on No. 18 Mississippi State twice (in Starkville) and played the Cardinals in Louisville. WKU is 0-3 against Power 5 teams in the 2021 campaign.
- The Hilltoppers enter their first midweek of the season with a 14-4 overall record. The Tops have unfortunately had six games canceled or postponed due to COVID-19 contact tracing by an opponent or inclement weather.
- Last Tuesday, head coach Amy Tudor announced the team would get three of those missed contests back as UAB visited The Hill last weekend and the Hilltoppers would come away with a series sweep.
- WKU Softball has faced 11 different SEC squads in program history and sits at 19-46 all-time in those games. In 2014, the Red and White downed No. 2 Tennessee in Knoxville for the program's highest-ranked win.
- Last weekend in Louisville, redshirt-senior pitcher Kelsey Aikey added both her 500th career strikeout and 17th career save. She is just the fourth Hilltopper to reach the 500-strikeout milestone and now sits 56 strikeouts away from owning the record. She has owned the program's save record since her junior season and ranks second among all active NCAA Division I pitchers with 17 saves.
- In early February, redshirt-junior catcher Kendall Smith was named 1-of-30 Senior CLASS Award Candidates. She joins fellow Hilltopper Aikey as two of the three selections in program history.
- WKU Softball was predicted to win the Conference USA East Division by league coaches, receiving eight first place votes. Individually, pitcher Aikey and Shelby Nunn, along with Smith were named to the Preseason All-Conference Team.
How to Follow the Hilltoppers: For complete information on WKU Softball, follow the team on Twitter at @WKUSoftball, Instagram @WKU_Softball and Facebook.
