"We found a way to win," opened head coach Amy Tudor. "Our speed and walks were game-changing for us in the seventh inning. Drawing walks and our hitting combined with lock-down defense in the seventh and Katie [Gardner] shutting it down after the first inning were clutch for us. Jessica [Bush]'s walk, Randi [Drinnon]'s read, TJ's clutch hit, Jordan Ridge's walks, Taylor Davis' game-tying hit and Brylee [Hage]'s game-winner – all clutch performances."
The Hilltoppers' comeback victory evened the series at 1-1 making Sunday's noon CT contest a rubber match.
WKU improved to 6-2 in Conference USA action with the East Division win while Florida Atlantic is now 5-3 in conference play. Overall, the Red and White climbed to 22-6 with the win and FAU is back to .500 at 17-17.
Florida Atlantic struck in its first trip to the plate to open the game eerily similar to the series opener. WKU wouldn't score in the series until the top of the seventh inning, which would end a 19-inning scoreless stretch.
Gardner struck out the side in both the second and fourth innings. She's now recorded all three outs nine times this season and done it twice in a game on three different occasions.
Jessica Bush drew a pinch-hit walk to lead off the top of the seventh – her third time reaching base during a pinch-hitting appearance this season. Randi Drinnon would reenter the lineup to run the bases and would eventually scoring when TJ Webster beat out an infield single, making the score 2-1. Rolling over to the top of the lineup, Taylor Davis struck for her second hit of the game – this time a liner to right field that evaded a diving outfielder that brought Webster home to tie the game at 2-2. From there, Ridge drew her third free base – second walk – of the game before Brylee Hage sent a double to the left field fence, which allowed both Hilltoppers to score for a 4-2 lead. All of the Hilltoppers' scoring would come on two outs as Davis was down to her final strike before keeping the rally going. WKU sent eight batters to the plate in the frame.
Taking the field with the lead for the first time of the series, Gardner and the Hilltoppers needed three outs to secure the win. Davis laid out for a diving grab in left field for the first out. Two pitches later, Webster handled a grounder and on the next pitch, Davis gloved a flyball to lock down the victory.
Gardner improved to 5-2 with her third complete-game of the season. The two-hitter also marked the second 5+ inning appearance by Gardner this season allowing just two hits. The Bowling Green native struck out 11 while walking just three batters in the 108-pitch effort.
TOP STORYLINES
- WKU is now 23-26 all-time against Florida Atlantic and 7-12 when playing at the FAU Softball Complex.
- Coach Tudor is in her 18th season as a head coach – ninth on The Hill – and owns a 472-369-2 career coaching record.
- WKU has now earned seven come-from-behind wins in 2022.
- Jordan Ridge went 0-for-0 at the plate while drawing two walks, one hit by pitch and one sac hit to move the runners.
- Taylor Davis registered two hits in the win, marking her 12th multi-hit game of the season and the 35th occurrence of her career.
- Gardner struck out the side in both the second and fourth innings. She's now recorded all three outs nine times this season and done it twice in a game on three different occasions.
