Tennessee Tech is slated to visit The Hill for the first time since 2016 when WKU earned a 5-3 win. The Hilltoppers have claimed the last two decisions against the Golden Eagles and lead the all-time series 11-7. WKU and Tennessee Tech met during the brief 2020 campaign for a neutral contest in Chattanooga, Tenn., which head coach Amy Tudor's squad claimed 9-0 in five innings.
The Golden Eagles suffered a sweep at Eastern Kentucky over the weekend in a three-game OVC series. EKU also downed the Tops, 1-0, back on April 7.
GAME 31
Tennessee Tech (18-24; 12-15 OVC) at WKU (19-11; 3-5 C-USA)
April 28, 2021 – 6 p.m. CT
HSSN on Facebook | Livestats
WKU Softball Complex | Bowling Green, Ky.
TOP STORYLINES
- WKU Softball has faced off against Tennessee Tech 18 times in program history and owns an 11-7 lead in the all-time series. The Tops are 3-2 in games against the Golden Eagles played in Bowling Green and 7-3 across the last 10 meetings.
- Tennessee Tech enters the series with a 12-15 OVC record and an 18-24 overall record. The Hilltoppers enter their fourth and final midweek of the season with a 19-11 overall record. The Tops have unfortunately had 14 games canceled or postponed due to COVID-19 contact tracing by an opponent or inclement weather.
- WKU's April 1-3 series at Marshall was postponed due to a positive COVID-19 case in the Hilltoppers' Tier 1 testing group and subsequent contract tracing. A make-up date has not been set yet.
- In the opening game of WKU's most recent series, redshirt-senior Paige Carter appeared in her 200th game as a Hilltopper and now sits at 203.
- WKU received votes in the NCAA Top 25 Poll for four weeks following its upset of No. 7 Kentucky.
- This season, Kelsey Aikey added both her 500th career strikeout and 17th career save. She is just the fourth Hilltopper to reach the 500-strikeout milestone. After six strikeouts against Belmont and seven more against Charlotte, she now stands at 553 strikeouts, just 10 away from breaking the all-time record for most career strikeouts in WKU history, currently held by Emily Rousseau (2012-14). Aikey has owned the program's save record since her junior season and ranks second among all active NCAA Division I pitchers with 17 saves.
- Former Hilltopper Softball player Larissa Franklin is a member of the Canadian National Team faced off against her former squad in the exhibition game earlier this season. Franklin is one of four current or former members of WKU Softball to be featured on the WKU Athletics' Beyond the Hill podcast.
- 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.
