"We showed some fight in game two tonight and saw a lot of different players step up in key moments," shared WKU head coach Amy Tudor.
WKU moves to 18-10 with the split and is now 2-4 in Conference USA outings while Charlotte sits at 26-11 and 10-4.
WKU's redshirt seniors each added to their impressive career numbers. Paige Carter appeared in her 200th career game in the series opener. Kelsey Aikey collected seven strikeouts across the doubleheader and now needs just nine to tie and 10 to reset the WKU Softball career strikeouts record.
GAME 1: CHARLOTTE 5, WKU 4
WKU struck first to open the weekend series against Charlotte with seven batters stepping into the box in the bottom of the opening frame. The Hilltoppers would come away with four hits including an RBI single from Kendall Smith followed by an RBI double from Jordan Ridge. WKU headed back to the field with a 2-0 lead.
In the top of the third, Charlotte would put runners on second and third before a TJ Webster fired a grounder back to Smith at home to keep the 49ers off the scoreboard. From there, Kelsey Aikey recorded strikeouts for the second and third outs to send three UNCC baserunners back to the dugout.
Charlotte got on the board in the top of the fourth with a two-run home run to tie the game at 2-2.
Smith would give the Hilltoppers a 3-2 lead with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth – her fourth of the season.
The 49ers responded in the top of the seventh with a two-run double to claim the lead at 4-3.
Brylee Hage led off the bottom of the seventh with a double and would eventually move to third on a fielder's choice that resulted in the bases loaded with Hilltoppers with just one out. WKU would not manage to scratch across a run, however, and Charlotte would claim the series' opening game.
Shelby Nunn took the loss in the circle after 3.2 innings in relief. She allowed just two hits and two runs while striking out a pair. Kelsey Aikey earned the start and tossed 3.1 innings with three strikeouts and three hits allowed while also allowing a pair of runs.
GAME 2: WKU 5, CHARLOTTE 3
Charlotte struck first in game two, scoring one run in the second and two runs in the third inning. WKU responded in the bottom of the third with a pair of runs off a Smith base hit that scored Paige Carter and Ridge.
The 49ers looked to get a run back in the fourth as their leadoff in the lineup connected for a one-out double before ultimately ending up stranded at third.
WKU struck for two more runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead. Kennedy Sullivan connected for a leadoff double before Hage drew a walk two batters later. From there, Kennedy Foote stepped in for her second plate appearance of the game and sent a two-run double to the wall in left-center for the 4-3 Hilltopper lead.
The Hilltoppers added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth after Taylor Davis drew a leadoff walk and ultimately came around to score on a sacrifice fly from Sullivan for the 5-3 margin.
Katie Gardner drew the start in the circle and worked 2.1 innings while allowing six hits, three runs and striking out three. Aikey took over and worked 2.0 frames of one-hit ball while striking out four before exiting due to injury.
Nunn would close things out for the Tops, throwing 2.2 innings of one-hit ball while striking out a pair to earn the win.
UPCOMING SCHEDULE
- Saturday, April 24 – TBD vs. Charlotte | Bowling Green, Ky.
- Sunday, April 25 – TBD vs. Charlotte | Bowling Green, Ky.
- Wednesday, April 28 – 6 p.m. CT vs. Tennessee Tech | Bowling Green, Ky.
How to Follow the Hilltoppers: For complete information on WKU Softball, follow the team on Twitter at @WKUSoftball, Instagram @WKU_Softball and Facebook /WKUSoftball
