"I thought we competed well today against one of the best teams in the country," shared WKU head coach Amy Tudor.
WKU moves to 15-6 on the season with the loss. The Hilltoppers are now 1-4 against Power 5 squads across the 2021 campaign after dropping their first-ever meeting with Florida. The Gators mark the 12th different SEC squad the Tops have faced in program history.
Head coach Amy Tudor is now 7-14 against SEC squads in her time at the helm of the WKU program.
Paige Carter led off the Hilltoppers' first game of the weekend with a 20-pitch at bat before eventually grounding out to third base.
Fellow redshirt-senior Kelsey Aikey opened the game strong too, striking out the first two batters she faced before the Gators would strike for three runs in the bottom of the first.
Freshman Kennedy Foote would also turn in a double-digit pitch at bat in the bottom of the third as she saw 13 pitches before also grounding out to third base.
In Carter's second time at the plate, she'd send the second pitch she saw deep for a solo homerun to get the Hilltoppers on the board. Carter's longball was her seventh of the season – a team best. The Crown Point, Ind., native also tallied a homer in the Hilltoppers' upset of No. 7 Kentucky a couple of weeks ago.
The score would remain 3-1 in favor of the Gators until the top of the sixth inning when Kennedy Sullivan stepped into the box to lead off the frame. The redshirt-sophomore sent the third pitch she saw out of the park to pull WKU within one at 3-2. That margin wouldn't last long, however, as No. 5 Florida responded in the bottom half of the inning with their first two runs off Shelby Nunn for the 5-2 advantage.
Nunn relieved Aikey in the bottom of the second inning and tossed four scoreless innings of relief before the Gators broke through.
Taylor Davis, Jordan Ridge and Brylee Hage each broke through for a base hit in the game.
WKU Softball is just the second team to hit multiple home runs off Florida ace Elizabeth Hightower this season – the other is No. 20 Georgia.
Florida improved to 30-4 on the season with Saturday's win.
The Hilltoppers closed the day playing an exhibition game against the Canadian National Team, marking the first time in program history the Tops have faced off against any national team squad.
Former Hilltopper Larissa Franklin made the start for Team Canada in center field and would finish 2-for-3 at the plate against the WKU pitching staff. The 2015 WKU grad connected for a two-run home run and drew a walk.
Madeline Rider would end Softball Canada's perfect game in the bottom of the seventh. Brylee Hage would also draw a walk, marking the Tops' only two baserunners in the outing.
Every healthy Hilltopper on the trip would make an appearance in the game.
"Being able to play against Team Canada was an awesome opportunity for our program and we are grateful for that opportunity," added Tudor. "It was great to see Franklin and for the team to see one of our former all-time greats."
Team Canada also won their first exhibition of the day over the Gators, 5-2. The game was called in the bottom of the fifth to due inclement weather.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
- Sunday, April 11 – 10 a.m. CT at No. 5 Florida | Gainesville, Fla.
- Friday, April 16 – 6 p.m. CT at Middle Tennessee | Murfreesboro, Tenn.
- Saturday, April 17 – 1 p.m. CT at Middle Tennessee | Murfreesboro, Tenn.
- Saturday, April 17 – 3:30 p.m. CT at Middle Tennessee | Murfreesboro, Tenn.
- Sunday, April 18 – Noon CT at Middle Tennessee | Murfreesboro, Tenn.
- Wednesday, April 21 – 6 p.m. CT at Belmont | Nashville, Tenn.
How to Follow the Hilltoppers: For complete information on WKU Softball, follow the team on Twitter at @WKUSoftball, Instagram @WKU_Softball and Facebook /WKUSoftball
