The Hilltoppers moved to 17-4 with the loss and 1-1 in C-USA play. WKU has matched the best 21-game start in program history, set by the 2004 squad. Additionally, the Red and White now sit at 15-8 all-time against Charlotte.
In its first round with Charlotte on Friday, WKU picked a win, which marked the 25th ranked win in program history. Of those 25 wins, 13 are on the ranked team's turf.
Charlotte struck in the first inning of Saturday's frigid contest, using a double to take advantage of a walk and wild pitch to take a 1-0 lead. The 49ers added two more runs in the bottom of the third with a sac fly and solo home run for a 3-0 lead.
Two innings later, the Hilltoppers got on the board in the top of the fifth. Jessica Bush delivered another pinch-hit single before moving into scoring position on a TJ Webster base hit. From there, Taylor Davis sent a triple to right field to plate both runners to pull within 3-2.
Bush would stay in and catch Katie Gardner the final two innings of her complete-game effort.
Charlotte used another sacrifice fly in the bottom of the sixth to add an insurance run for a 4-2 margin.
Gardner took the pitching loss, moving to 3-2 on the season. The outing was her second complete-game effort of the season. The junior allowed five hits and three walks against six strikeouts.
COMPLETE WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday
2 p.m. – WKU def. No. 24 Charlotte, 4-2 [9]
Saturday
Noon – No. 24 Charlotte def. WKU, 4-2
Sunday
11 a.m. – WKU at No. 24 Charlotte | CUSA.tv
TOP STORYLINES
- WKU moves to 15-8 all-time against Charlotte with the decision and 4-4 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 468-368-2 career coaching record.
- WKU is now 1-2 against teams receiving votes or ranked this season.
How to Follow Hilltopper Softball: For complete information on WKU Softball, follow the team on Twitter at @WKUSoftball, Instagram @WKU_Softball and Facebook /WKUSoftball.
