BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — For the first time since 2015 and for just the third time in program history, WKU Softball has locked up a trip to the NCAA Tournament with Saturday's 13-4 win over UAB in the Conference USA Championship game. Every Hilltopper batter recorded a hit in the win as the team racked up 17 knocks to tie its season best including four home runs.
Kennedy Sullivan was named Tournament MVP while Brylee Hage, Paige Carter, Shelby Nunn, Kendall Smith and Princess Valencia all landed All-Tournament Team nods.
WKU is the first host since fifth-seeded East Carolina in 2011 to win the C-USA Tournament on its home field.
The 2021 automatic bid is the second in WKU Softball history, joining the 2015 squad – both coached by Amy Tudor. WKU also earned an at-large bid in 2013.
WKU's bats were hot from the start as the Tops racked up three first-inning hits with Carter coming around to score after leading off the game with a single. Due up to start the second inning, Taylor Davis singled before moving to second on a walk by TJ Webster. Already back at the top of the order, Carter drove her teammate in with a double for the 3-0 WKU lead.
UAB pulled back within one in the bottom of the second, making the score 3-2 at the time.
Two innings later, WKU would bat around the order, sending 10 players to the plate as they produced six runs on five hits. Smith struck for WKU's first home run of the game in the form of a two-run shot that made the score 8-2. By the end of the frame, the margin grew to 9-2 following an RBI double from Hage.
The Blazers tallied two more runs in the bottom of the fifth, bring the score to 9-4. WKU responded in its next trip to the plate as Taylor Sanders connected for a solo home run to push the Tops into double digits.
Leaving no room for doubt, Carter sent a solo homer out of the park with one away in the top of the seventh. Jordan Ridge followed with a single, making it so every Hilltopper batter recorded at least one hit. Sullivan stepped into the box from there and cranked a two-run homer to right-center field for the final 13-4 tally.
Sullivan also drew the start in the circle and worked 1.1 innings before giving way to Katie Gardner for a brief relief appearance. Nunn would work the final 5.0 innings and allow just three Blazer hits while striking out four while earning the win.
WKU forced UAB to use six different pitchers in the outing with none lasting longer than 2.1 frames.
With the win, WKU is now 31-13 on the 2021 campaign.
The Hilltoppers will learn their NCAA Tournament fate Sunday night at 8 p.m. CT as the NCAA Softball Selection Show airs on ESPN2.
How to Follow the Hilltoppers: For complete information on WKU Softball, follow the team on Twitter at @WKUSoftball, Instagram @WKU_Softball and Facebook /WKUSoftball
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