| Hilltopper Classic // Feb. 18-20 // WKU Softball Complex | |||||
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| Game 1: Central Michigan | Friday, Feb. 18 | 3 p.m. CT | Facebook Live | Livestats | ||||
| Game 2: Bellarmine | Friday, Feb. 18 | 5:30 p.m. | Facebook Live | Livestats | ||||
| Game 3: SEMO | Saturday, Feb. 19 | 12:30 p.m. | Facebook Live | Livestats | ||||
| Game 4: TBD | Saturday, Feb. 19 | 3 or 5:30 p.m. | Facebook Live | Livestats | ||||
| Game 5: TBD | Sunday, Feb. 20 | 11 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. | Facebook Live | Livestats | ||||
| Tickets | Single Day: Adults: $10, Youth (3-12): $5 WKU students receive free admission by showing their student ID. Sunday: Free admission by showing a church bulletin |
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| Promotions | Schedule Magnet Giveaway (All Weekend) Fan Friday Free Admission with Church Bulletin (Sunday only) |
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| Game Notes | WKU | ||||
| Series History | Central Michigan (First Meeting), Bellarmine (First Meeting), SEMO (WKU leads 6-2; Full History) | ||||
| Social Media | @WKUSoftball  | @WKU Softball  | Facebook  | YouTube  | Tik Tok |
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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Softball will kick off its 2022 home slate as the squad is set to host the Hilltopper Classic this weekend. Central Michigan, Bellarmine and Southeast Missouri State (SEMO) will join the Red and White on The Hill for the second week of action. Weekend action will begin with pool play where each team will face each other once before being seeded into a bracket for their last two games - all teams will play five games.
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This weekend's meeting marks the ninth encounter with SEMO in WKU Softball history. WKU leads the all-time series 6-2. The Hilltopper Classic will mark the first time that the Hilltoppers have squared off with both Bellarmine and Central Michigan.Â
Last weekend, WKU traveled to Texas A&M for the Aggie Classic. The Hilltoppers went 3-1, only falling to host Texas A&M on Saturday before bouncing back with a 13-1 five-inning run-rule win over Texas A&M - Corpus Christi on Sunday.
Several Hilltopper rookies saw action over Opening Weekend. In Friday's opener, Randi Drinnon and Kasia Parks made their collegiate debuts while fifth-year senior Bailey Curry made her Hilltopper debut. Abby Newman (pinch hit) and Savannah Fierke (relief pitcher) made their first appearances in game two of the weekend. Sophomore transfer Jessica Bush saw her first action as a Top against [RV] Texas A&M before redshirt-freshman Kelsie Houchens came in in relief to pitch in game four.
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All five weekend games for WKU Softball will feature a livestream on Facebook Live. Friday and Sunday's action can be caught on WKU's primary stream while Saturday's action will be on the secondary stream due to an overlap with home basketball.
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COMPLETE WEEKEND SCHEDULEÂ
Friday
10 a.m. - Central Michigan (A) vs. SEMO (H)
12:30 p.m. - SEMO (A) vs. Bellarmine (H)
3 p.m. - Central Michigan at WKU
5:30 p.m. - Bellarmine at WKU
Saturday
10 a.m. - Bellarmine (A) vs. Central Michigan (H)
12:30 p.m. - SEMO at WKU
3 p.m. - 1 vs. 4 game
5:30 p.m - 2 vs. 3 game
Sunday
11 a.m. - Consolation game (Losers from 1 vs. 4 & 2 vs. 3 games)
1:30 p.m. - Championship game (Winners from 1 vs. 4 & 2 vs. 3 games)
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TOP STORYLINES
- WKU Softball has faced off against SEMO eight times in program history. The Tops lead the all-time series 6-2, posting a 4-1 record at home. This weekend marks the first meetings since Feb. 28th, 2016, which SEMO won 8-3.
- This weekend marks the first time that the Hilltoppers have gone head-to-head against Bellarmine and Central Michigan.
- Hilltopper fans will be able to watch all 25 home games this season for free on Facebook Live. New this year, Hilltopper Sports Properties (HSP) has added the ability for a secondary stream called "Behind The Mic", allowing for simultaneous softball games to be streamed. The full slate of home games available to stream on Facebook Watch can be found HERE.
- WKU defeated Texas A&M Corpus Christi last Friday 6-5 on a walk-off solo shot by Jordan Ridge, which was the first walk-off home run in regulation/extra innings since 2016.
- Head Coach Amy Tudor is 6-2 in home openers since taking over the helm in 2013. 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 were 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.
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