"I'm extremely proud of our fight today," shared head coach Amy Tudor. "We were resilient and Shelby [Nunn] was stellar. Our at bats were for the most part quality, with lots of different folks stepping up. We tallied 16 hits; very proud of our offense."
The Hilltoppers climbed to 17-3 with the win and 1-0 in Conference USA play. WKU has matched the best 20-game start in program history, set by the 2004 squad. Additionally, the Red and White added to their lead in the all-time series and now lead 15-7 with wins in the last three meetings.
WKU picked up a win in extra innings for the second time this season. The Tops now own wins in eight and nine-inning contests after taking down SEMO 4-3 in eight innings.
In its first meeting against a ranked opponent in 2022, the Hilltoppers picked up a win, which marked the 25th ranked win in program history. Of those 25 wins, 13 are on the ranked team's turf.
Nunn improved to 10-2 on the season with her seventh complete-game outing of the campaign. She allowed five hits across the 140-pitch effort while tallying just one walk (intentional) and five strikeouts.
Nunn faced the minimum batters from Charlotte through four innings thanks to a pair of lineouts turned double plays involving TJ Webster and Maddie Bowlds.
The Hilltoppers struck first in the game, tallying a run in the top of the second before adding another run in the top of the fifth. Charlotte evened the score in the bottom of the sixth, where it would stay until the top of the ninth. The 49ers put their first runner in scoring position in the bottom of the sixth.
Bowlds and Abby Newman both delivered three-hit games – a career-best for Newman. Starting from the top of the order, Webster, Taylor Davis, Jordan Ridge and Brylee Hage all recorded two-hit games.
Hage also registered a multi-RBI effort, driving in Webster and Davis in the top of the ninth for what would ultimately be the winning runs.
COMPLETE WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday
2 p.m. – WKU def. No. 24 Charlotte, 4-2 [9]
Saturday
Noon – WKU at No. 24 Charlotte | ESPN+
Sunday
11 a.m. – WKU at No. 24 Charlotte | CUSA.tv
TOP STORYLINES
- WKU improves to 15-7 all-time against Charlotte with the win and 4-3 in games at the Sue M. Daughtridge Stadium.
- Coach Tudor is in her 18th season as a head coach – ninth on The Hill – and owns a 468-367-2 career coaching record.
- Abby Newman added a career-best three-hit game along with an RBI. Maddie Bowlds also tallied three hits.
- Brylee Hage delivered a multi-RBI game – her first of the season and sixth of her career.
- Six different Hilltoppers had a multi-hit game in the win.
- WKU struck for 16 hits against the Charlotte pitching staff – the second-most the 49ers have given up this season and most the Hilltoppers have struck for. WKU now owns seven double-digit hit outings this season.
- Taylor Sanders' reached base streak is now up to 20 games. Bailey Curry is just behind her at 19 games.
- The Hilltoppers are now 2-0 in extra-inning games this season.
- In its first meeting against a ranked opponent in 2022, the Hilltoppers picked up a win, which marked the 25th ranked win in program history. Of those 25 wins, 13 are on the ranked team's turf.
How to Follow Hilltopper Softball: For complete information on WKU Softball, follow the team on Twitter at @WKUSoftball, Instagram @WKU_Softball and Facebook /WKUSoftball.
