"I thought we had a great response today," opened head coach Amy Tudor. "We looked sharp offensively, ran well and pitched it well. It was a great team win."
WKU saw four Hilltoppers register two-hit games with TJ Webster, Jordan Ridge, Taylor Sanders and Randi Drinnon all doing so. Ridge and Sander both tallied three RBI while Maddie Bowlds, Taylor Davis and Kennedy Foote all drove in two.
For the first time of the season, the Hilltoppers struck in the opening frame after taking advantage of a Texas A&M – Corpus Christi error for a 1-0 lead. The Islanders bounced back in the bottom of the inning and reciprocated the unearned run to tie the game back at 1-1.
The Red and White wasted no time regaining the lead in their next trip to the plate, as 12 Hilltoppers would make a plate appearance. WKU scored seven in the inning for an 8-1 advantage. Jordan Ridge sent a base hit back up the middle for two RBI and Taylor Sanders followed with an RBI single to make it 4-1. From there, Maddie Bowlds connected for a two-run double to open the game up. Taylor Davis kept things moving with a two-run single to account for the sixth and seventh runs.
WKU adding three more runs in the third to push out to an 11-1 lead. Webster sent a one-out single to leftfield to get things started before Ridge delivered a double. Next up, Sanders posted a two-RBI single before Brylee Hage closed the frame's scoring with a sac fly to right field.
Scoring continued into the fourth for WKU, tacking on two more runs for the 13-1 advantage. Abby Newman led off the inning with a single before Bailey Curry drew a walk. Drinnon followed up with a base hit for her second knock of the game to load the bases. Next up, Kennedy Foote delivered a two-run single.
Shelby Nunn tossed four innings of work, allowing four hits and no earned runs while striking out four. Kelsie Houchens pitched the final inning for her WKU debut and worked a 1-2-3 frame including her first strikeout.
NEXT WEEKEND – HILLTOPPER CLASSIC
Friday – WKU vs. Central Michigan – 3 p.m. CT
Friday – WKU vs. Bellarmine – 5:30 p.m.
Saturday – WKU vs. SEMO – 12:30 p.m.
Saturday – WKU vs. TBD – 3 or 5:30 p.m.
Sunday – WKU vs. TBD – 11 a.m. or 1:30 p.m.
TOP STORYLINES
- 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 2-0.
- 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 454-365-2 career coaching record.
- 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.
