GAME 17: WKU 8, SAMFORD 3
After three scoreless half innings of play, Bailey Curry put the Hilltoppers on the board first with a solo home run – her fifth of the season for the 1-0 lead.
Samford drew its first walk of the game in the top of the third but would ultimately strand the runner to bring WKU back to the plate.
Taylor Sanders and Bailey Curry drew one- and two-out walks, respectively, before Brylee Hage singled to first base to load the bases. From there, Maddie Bowlds stepped into the box and drew a full-count RBI walk to plate Sanders, making the score 2-0. Up next, Randi Drinnon reached on a throwing error that cleared the bases to push WKU's lead to 5-0 through three innings of play.
After scoreless frames in the fourth and fifth innings, Samford connected for a solo home run to avoid a second shutout to the Tops. WKU answered back in the bottom of the frame with three runs of its own. Drinnon led things off with a walk before Jessica Bush delivered a pinch-hit single down the left line to put runners on first and third. Webster reached with a single and moved into scoring position with a Bulldog throwing error, allowing a run to score. Sanders followed with an RBI knock before Ridge added an RBI fielder's choice.
The hit by Bush marked the first of her collegiate career.
Samford would add two more runs in the top of the eighth for the final 8-3 margin as the Hilltoppers won the second meeting in as many days.
Shelby Nunn earned the win in the circle, improving to 8-2 on the season after working 6.0 innings of one-run ball. Nunn would finish with just four hits allowed while walking one and striking out one. Kelsie Houchens would come in for the final inning of work to close out the win.
Davis and Hage each registered multi-hit games.
GAME 18: OLE MISS 10, WKU 2 [6]
Through the first inning of the Hilltoppers' second go-around with Ole Miss, WKU owned the lone hit on the board after TJ Webster beat out a bunt single in the second at bat of the game. She would steal second during the next at bat but end up stranded there.
After holding the top of the Rebels' lineup hitless in the opening frame, WKU added another knock in the top of the second as Brylee Hage singled back up the middle but was also ultimately stranded. Ole Miss connected for a solo home run on the second pitch of the bottom of the inning to break the scoreless tie. The hosts would go on to add three more hits in the frame to take a 3-0 lead when all was said and done.
Abby Newman led off the top of the third with a walk and moved into scoring position on Webster's second bunt single of the game but both runners were left.
Ole Miss batted through the order in the bottom of the third to extend its lead to a 7-0 margin.
WKU responded in the top of the fourth with a couple of runs itself. Hage connected for a one-out single before Maddie Bowlds reach on a fielder's choice that saw everyone reach safely after a Rebel error. From there, Randi Drinnon singled down the left field line to load the bases. Next, Newman connected for an RBI single before Davis turned in an RBI fielder's choice to make the score 7-2.
Katie Gardner reentered the game in the bottom of the fourth. She worked 1.2 innings in her start before being relieved by Savannah Fierke who would be replaced by Kelsie Houchens. Gardner would retire all three Ole Miss batters herself with three of her four strikeouts in the game.
WKU loaded the bases back up in the top of the fifth but would come away with nothing again after Sanders led the frame off with a hit. Gardner and the Hilltopper defense retired the next three Ole Miss batters in the bottom of the inning to get WKU back to the plate for the sixth but the Rebels would return the favor.
Ole Miss would add three more runs in the bottom of the sixth to ultimately end the game with a 10-2 run-rule win.
Gardner took the decision and moved to 3-1 on the season after 4.1 innings of work. The Hilltopper offense finished with seven hits and nine runners left on base.
COMPLETE WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday
1 p.m. – WKU def. Samford, 4-0
6 p.m. – Ole Miss def. WKU, 2-0
Saturday
1 p.m. – WKU def. Samford, 8-3
6 p.m. – Ole Miss def. WKU, 10-2 [6]
Sunday
10 a.m. – WKU vs. Saint Louis
TOP STORYLINES
- WKU has squared off with Samford 18 times in program history leading the series 12-6. The Tops are now 2-2 all-time against Ole Miss.
- The Hilltoppers will face a total of three Power 5 teams in four games this season with Ole Miss being two of those games. WKU fell to Texas A&M 2-0 in the opening weekend of the season and wouldn't drop another decision until Friday's game against Ole Miss – another 2-0 decision. The Hilltoppers sit at 0-3 against Power 5 opposition through the first three games.
- Coach Tudor is in her 18th season as a head coach – ninth on The Hill – and owns a 466-367-2 career coaching record.
How to Follow Hilltopper Softball: For complete information on WKU Softball, follow the team on Twitter at @WKUSoftball, Instagram @WKU_Softball and Facebook /WKUSoftball.
