"Arkansas has a great résumé, they're a well-coached team and offensively a powerhouse," opened WKU head coach Amy Tudor. "They check all the boxes as far as being a quality opponent. I thought we did good scoring early – we scored first. We probably should've gotten two out of that first inning but we took one. I thought Shelby [Nunn] threw great – had a couple mistakes, but I thought she did a really good job against that offensive lineup. Obviously not the result we wanted but there are a lot of good takeaways."
The Hilltoppers moved to 21-5 with the loss and 13-1 in games from the WKU Softball Complex this season. Arkansas now sits at 20-5 on the season.
WKU struck in its first trip to the plate. Bailey Curry sent the first pitch she saw down the right field line for a double.
Maddie Poschke would pinch run for Curry, advancing to third on a Davis single and ultimately be called out attempting to score on a wild pitch during Taylor Sanders' at bat. Davis scored from second when Sanders singled through the right side to give the Hilltoppers a 1-0 lead.
The first Arkansas batter of the next inning would work a full count off Shelby Nunn before striking for a solo home run to knot the game at 1-1. The knock marked Arkansas' first hit after the side was retired in order in the first.
From the top of the second through the fifth inning, the 1-1 tie would remain as Arkansas stranded six runners in that span. The Hilltoppers stranded four of their own during that span as well.
The Razorbacks struck for their second homer of the game in the top of the sixth – a two-run shot to go ahead 3-1. Arkansas struck for two more homers in the seventh for the final 8-1 margin.
Nunn would take the loss in the circle, moving to 13-3 on the season. Katie Gardner and Kelsie Houchens both made relief appearances – tossing an inning each.
Sixteen of WKU's 17 players would make an appearance in the midweek outing.
Four of the Hilltoppers five losses this season have come to Power Five opponents with the final loss coming to a ranked Charlotte squad.
COMPLETE WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday
2 p.m. – [RV] WKU def. UTEP, 6-0
Saturday
1 p.m. – [RV] WKU def. UTEP, 2-1
Sunday
1 p.m. – [RV] WKU def. UTEP, 9-0 [5]
Monday
6 p.m. – No. 10 Arkansas def. [RV] WKU, 8-1
TOP STORYLINES
- The Hilltoppers are now 1-2 in the all-time series against Arkansas. Monday's meeting was the first from either side's home turf.
- Coach Tudor is in her 18th season as a head coach – ninth on The Hill – and owns a 472-368-2 career coaching record.
- WKU is now 16-1 when scoring first and 9-1 when scoring in the first inning.
- The Hilltoppers have played three different SEC squads this season for a total of four games. Four of the Hilltoppers' five losses have come to those teams.
