"I'm proud of our toughness tonight to complete the comeback win," shared WKU head coach Amy Tudor.
WKU improved to 26-7 on the season with the win and is now 10-3 in Conference USA play. UAB moved to 20-14 overall and 8-2 in league action.
UAB struck for five runs in the bottom of the first but Sanders connected for a one-out home run in the top of the next inning to get the Hilltoppers on the board and begin the comeback.
The Blazers tallied their final run of the game in the bottom of the second on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly before Randi Drinnon and Taylor Sanders connected for a double play to get the Red and White back to the dugout with minimal damage done.
Curry added the Tops' second homer of the day in the top of the fourth with a two-out solo shot to pull the score within 6-2.
WKU faced the minimum in the bottom of both the third and fourth innings. After a leadoff single by the Blazers in the fourth, Drinnon and Jordan Ridge teamed up to catch the runner stealing.
The Hilltoppers took advantage of four UAB errors in the top of the fifth to plate four runs and come all the way back to tie the game at 6-6. The lone hit of the inning was a bases-loaded and clearing double by Sanders to bring her RBI total to four on the day. All nine Hilltoppers in the order would make a plate appearance in the frame.
UAB scattered three hits across the last three innings of the game with just two coming against the Hilltoppers' winning pitcher, Katie Gardner, in the final 2.2 innings. The Blazers would put a runner in scoring position in each of those innings.
In the top of the seventh, Brylee Hage led things off with a single before Sanders connected for a one-out single for her third hit of the game. From there, Curry stepped into the box and cranked a double off the centerfield wall to score Hage from second for the winning run.
UAB would record a two-out triple in the bottom of the seventh but Gardner would induce a popup to Ridge at second base to close out the win.
Gardner improved to 8-2 in the circle on the season with the win in relief. In her 2.2 innings of work, the junior allowed just two hits and one walk against three strikeouts and zero runs.
Shelby Nunn earned the start and ultimately took a no decision after giving way to Kelsie Houchens in the third inning. All of UAB's run came off Nunn while Houchens worked 2.1 frames of two-hit relief before Gardner took over in the bottom of the fifth.
Sanders is up to 10 multi-hit games on the season after her first three-hit effort of the campaign on Friday. Additionally, she now owns eight RBI in the Tops' last two games, 10 in the last three and 11 in the last four with seven hits in that span as well. Sanders is also up to 10 multi-RBI efforts on the year.
Bowlds' multi-hit performance was her third of the season while Curry's outing was her fourth of the year.
Curry is also up to 12 multi-RBI efforts this season.
TOP STORYLINES
- WKU leads the all-time series with UAB, 11-9 but trails 2-5 in games played at Mary Bowers Field following Friday's win.
- Coach Tudor is in her 18th season as a head coach – ninth on The Hill – and owns a 477-370-2 career coaching record.
- The Hilltoppers' win marked the eighth in come-from-behind fashion this season.
- WKU is now 7-4 when an opponent scores in the first inning and 7-6 when an opponent scores first.
- Taylor Sanders now owns eight RBI in the Tops' last two games, 10 in the last three and 11 in the last four with seven hits in that span as well. Sanders is also up to 10 multi-RBI efforts on the year after Friday's 4-RBI effort.
How to Follow Hilltopper Softball: For complete information on WKU Softball, follow the team on Twitter at @WKUSoftball, Instagram @WKU_Softball and Facebook /WKUSoftball.
