[RV] Hilltoppers Set to Host UTEP, No. 10 Arkansas

UTEP Series + Arkansas // March 18-21 // WKU Softball Complex
Game 1: UTEP	Friday, March 18 \| 2 p.m. CT \| Livestats \| Facebook Live (BTM)
Game 2: UTEP	Saturday, March 19 \| 1 p.m. \| Livestats \| Facebook Live (BTM)
Game 3: UTEP	Sunday, March 20 \| 1 p.m. \| Livestats \| Facebook Live (BTM)
Game 4: No. 10 Arkansas	Monday, March 21 \| 6 p.m. \| Livestats \| Facebook Live
Promotions	HAF Weekend - Free admission for HAF members (All Weekend) Fan Friday Free Admission with Church Bulletin (Sunday only)
Game Notes	WKU \| UTEP \| Arkansas
Series History	UTEP (Lead, 4-2; Full History), Arkansas (Tied, 1-1; Full History)
Social Media	@WKUSoftball \| @WKU Softball \| Facebook \| YouTube \| Tik Tok

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – [RV] WKU Softball is set for a four-game stretch on The Hill this weekend with UTEP coming to town for the Hilltoppers' first home conference series before No. 10 Arkansas closes out the home stretch on Monday. WKU and the Miners are slated to play a three-game set across Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The Hilltoppers own an 18-4 record and 2-1 mark in C-USA while UTEP entered the week with a 10-13 record and a 1-2 reading in league play. UTEP is scheduled to play at Murray State Thursday night before heading over to Bowling Green for the weekend series.

Arkansas enters its weekend series at No. 14 Tennessee with a 17-4 record and has won nine-straight games.

WKU leads the all-time series against UTEP 4-2, claiming both previous series meetings (2017 & '18), 2-1. The Hilltoppers' all-time series against Arkansas is knotted at 1-1. The sides most recently met in 2009 – a 7-4 loss for the Tops from Hattiesburg, Miss. The first meeting between the squads was on Feb. 10, 2007, which was a 1-0 win for WKU from Tampa, Fla.

Arkansas is one of eight teams the Hilltoppers compete against this season ranked in the top 100 in the NCAA RPI. The Razorbacks currently sit at No. 29 and UTEP at 177. The Hilltoppers currently sit at 35 in the RPI with their three losses all coming at the hands of teams in the top 25.

After winning its first series against a ranked opponent since 2013 with last weekend's win at No. 24 Charlotte, WKU Softball is ranked as high as No. 25 in the polls and is receiving votes in the officially recognized NFCA Coaches poll.

A live stream will be available for all four games. Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be streamed on the Behind the Mic Facebook Live feed while Monday's contest will be available via HSSN on Facebook. Live stats will be available the entire weekend as well.

GAMES 23-26
WKU (18-4; 2-1) hosts UTEP (10-13; 1-2) - March 18-20, 2022
WKU hosts No. 10 Arkansas (17-4) – March 21, 2022
WKU Softball Complex | Bowling Green, Ky.
Friday – 2 p.m. CT | Stats | Facebook Live
Saturday – 1 p.m. CT | Stats | Facebook Live
Sunday – 1 p.m. CT | Stats | Facebook Live
Monday – 6 p.m. CT | Stats | Facebook Live

TOP STORYLINES

WKU leads the all-time series against UTEP, 4-2 and is tied with Arkansas at 1-1.
Arkansas will be the third team WKU has faced this season that is inside the top 30 on the NCAA RPI rankings. The other three opponents being SEC or conference foes of Texas A&M, Ole Miss and Charlotte.
The Hilltoppers currently sit at 18-4 on the season and have a chance to match the quickest season to 20 wins – achieved in just 24 games by the 2020 squad.
After last weekend's results Tudor is now 469-368-2 in her career.
The WKU Softball program is currently sitting at 697 all-time wins with a chance to break the 700 milestone this weekend at home.
WKU has seen three athletes earn Conference USA Player of the Week honors in five weeks of the award being distributed this season. Bailey Curry, Taylor Sanders and Brylee Hage have all been honored with the accolade this season.
With the addition of Monday's game against Arkansas, WKU is now slated to host two SEC squads on The Hill this season. While the Hilltoppers have hosted the same SEC squad for a doubleheader on a few occasions, they've never hosted two different SEC teams in the same season.
After winning its first series against a ranked opponent since 2013 with last weekend's win at No. 24 Charlotte, WKU Softball is ranked as high as No. 25 in the polls and is receiving votes in the officially recognized NFCA Coaches poll.
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. Charlotte and Marshall were the only two other teams to land three players on 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. Nunn and the Hilltoppers will face off against C-USA Preseason Player of the Year, Bailey Vannoy and the 49ers this weekend.

How to Follow Hilltopper Softball: For complete information on WKU Softball, follow the team on Twitter at @WKUSoftball, Instagram @WKU_Softball and Facebook /WKUSoftball.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Maddie Bowlds

Bailey Curry

Taylor Davis

Brylee Hage

Shelby Nunn

Taylor Sanders