"After getting down 2-0 with one out in inning one, we stood tall," shared head coach Amy Tudor. "We played great defense, Katie pitched a gem and we had several runners reach and chances to score but just came up short. We have lots of good things to continue to build on."
WKU moved to 2-1 on the young 2022 season with Saturday's loss while Texas A&M sits at 4-0 after Saturday's action including three run-rule wins.
Texas A&M's two- and three-hole hitters each connected for solo home runs in the bottom of the first to put the Aggies up 2-0 with just one out in the game. Katie Gardner would relieve Shelby Nunn in the circle at that point. After allowing a single back up the middle, Gardner struck out the next two batters to get the Hilltoppers back to the dugout.
The Hilltoppers struck for one hit in each of the first four innings. Taylor Sanders doubled in the first, Randi Drinnon beat out an infield single in the second, TJ Webster laid down a bunt single in the third and Taylor Davis connected for a double through the left side in the fourth.
Davis would add a bunt single in the top of the sixth for her second two-hit game in the last two days.
Across Gardner's 5.2 innings of relief work, she allowed just three hits – including two after WKU got out of the first inning. She allowed zero runs and struck out five Aggies – all looking.
WKU is set to close Aggie Classic play on Sunday with another matchup against Texas A&M – Corpus Christi.
GAME 5
WKU vs. Texas A&M – Corpus Christi
Sunday, Feb. 13 | 10 a.m. CT
Livestats
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.
- Texas A&M now leads the all-time series against WKU 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 453-365-2 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.
