"It was great to get two games with two wins on Opening Day," opened Tudor. "I am proud of our efforts and composure. Ridge really stepped up with the huge homer in the seventh of game two after we went back even. These were a couple of great team wins today."
Both Ridge and fellow senior Taylor Davis registered three hits across the day.
GAME 1 – WKU 3, UT ARLINGTON 1
After UT Arlington opened the day with a single and ultimately scored the runner with their second hit of the frame, Shelby Nunn and the Hilltopper defense would retire the next 18 batters in order. The Mavs struck for a single with two outs in the seventh to account for their third hit of the game.
WKU trailed 1-0 until the bottom of the fifth. Kasia Parks picked up her first collegiate hit with a single to lead off the inning. The Hilltoppers followed with three consecutive fielder's choices while only recording one out to load the bases. From there, Taylor Davis singled back at the pitcher, allowing Randi Drinnon to score and tie the game at 1-1.
Taylor Sanders kept things moving with a two-RBI double over the centerfielder's head to give WKU the 3-1 advantage.
Jordan Ridge accounted for the Hilltoppers first knock of the season in the bottom of the second, which came in the form of a double before she ended up stranded.
Shelby Nunn earned the complete-game win in the circle. The fifth-year senior allowed just three hits and no walks while striking out four.
GAME 2 – WKU 6, TEXAS A&M – CORPUS CHRISTI 5
Taylor Sanders became the Tops first base runner of the second game as she drew her third walk of the day in the first inning.
In the Tops' next trip to the plate, Davis led off the frame with a single before Drinnon walked and TJ Webster followed with a single to load the bases. From there, a Bailey Curry double off the top of the wall plated two for a 2-0 WKU lead. Ridge followed with an RBI fielder's choice that scored Webster for a 3-0 lead.
Texas A&M – Corpus Christi responded in the top of the third with a two-run home run to bring the score to 3-2.
The score would hold into the bottom of the fifth when Ridge got things going with a single and two batters later Brylee Hage sent a triple down the right field line to push the score to 4-2.
Katie Gardner worked the game's first five innings, allowing just two hits and two earned runs while striking out four and walking three. In the top of the sixth, Savannah Fierke saw her first collegiate action for the Tops, facing just four batters in the frame.
Davis led off the bottom of the sixth with a single – her second knock of the day – and would score for a 5-2 lead as Webster picked up an RBI.
Texas A&M – Corpus Christi answered back in the top of the seventh, sending seven batters to the plate to ultimately tie the score at 5-5. The Islanders struck with three of their four hits coming on the first pitch of at bats.
Due up in the bottom of the seventh were the Hilltoppers' 2, 3 and 4 hitters but all WKU needed was its first batter – Ridge. The senior worked a full count before sending a home run just inside of the leftfield foul pole for a walk-off knock.
Fierke would earn the win in the circle after working the final two innings.
GAMES 3-5
WKU (2-0) vs. [RV] Texas A&M
Watch: SECN+ | Livestats
Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022 | 3 p.m. CT
WKU vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Livestats
Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022 | 5:30 p.m. CT
WKU vs. UT Arlington
Livestats
Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022 | 10 a.m. CT
TOP STORYLINES
- WKU Softball has faced off against UT Arlington six times in program history. The Tops lead the all-time series 5-1. This weekend marks the first time that the Hilltoppers have gone head-to-head against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi with the Tops now leading the all-time series 1-0.
- The Hilltoppers will face a total of three Power 5 teams in four games this season with Texas A&M being the first in the Aggie Classic on Opening Weekend.
- Head Coach Amy Tudor owns a 17-1 record in season-openers across her career. Coach Tudor enters her 18th season as a head coach – ninth on The Hill – and owns a 453-364-2 career coaching record.
- WKU Softball is 15-8 in all-time season openers and 8-1 with head coach Amy Tudor at the helm.
- In the Conference USA Preseason Coaches Poll, the Hilltoppers were predicted to finish third in C-USA, while Maddie Bowlds, Taylor Davis and Shelby Nunn named to the Preseason All-Conference team.
- Shelby Nunn was named WKU's second-ever Preseason Pitcher of the Year, which is the first in the Conference USA era. Adrienne Lathrop was the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year ahead of the 2008 campaign.
How to Follow Hilltopper Softball: For complete information on WKU Softball, follow the team on Twitter at @WKUSoftball, Instagram @WKU_Softball and Facebook /WKUSoftball.
