With the win, the Hilltoppers climbed to 33-11 on the 2022 campaign including a 15-7 mark in Conference USA play. Middle Tennessee moved to 19-32 overall and 6-16 in league games with the loss.
The Hilltoppers continue to add to the most wins at home in a single season, climbing to 21 with Friday's victory. WKU is now 21-2 playing at the WKU Softball Complex this season.
WKU took a 1-0 lead in the opening frame after Brylee Hage drew a walk to lead things off before stealing second and advancing 60 feet on back-to-back ground balls. Hage scored on an RBI groundout from Taylor Sanders, who pushed her season total to 48 RBI.
The Hilltoppers added a second run in their next trip to the plate, Curry and Drinnon opened the inning with back-to-back singles before TJ Webster dropped an RBI base hit just fair in shallow left field that allowed Drinnon to slide in safely at home.
Nunn would carry a perfect game into the fourth inning and a no-hitter into the fifth frame before Middle Tennessee broke through with a double to the wall. The fifth-year senior would strike out the next batter, facing just two over the minimum through five innings of work.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Red and White produced a four-run frame to push the lead to 6-0. The Tops plated four runs on five hits, which included knocks by Hage, Taylor Davis, Maddie Bowlds, Curry and a double from Drinnon. WKU worked through the order in the inning and saw Bowlds, Curry (2) and Drinnon all record RBI.
Middle Tennessee broke into the scoring column with two outs in the top of the sixth. The Blue Raiders struck for another double before following that with a single and Hilltopper error that allowed the unearned run to make the score 6-1.
WKU went down in order in the bottom of the sixth before MTSU added two more ultimately harmless hits in the top of the seventh. Nunn would record a pair of strikeouts before Bowlds gloved a liner for the final out.
Nunn climbed to 20-6 on the season with her 15th complete-game outing. Her season ERA also dropped to 1.57. Nunn struck out four while allowing just one walk.
Curry now owns six multi-hit games and 16 multi-RBI outings on the season. Drinnon has delivered three multi-hit efforts in her last four outings and is up to six multi-hit performances on the year.
TOP STORYLINES
- WKU leads the all-time series against Middle Tennessee 44-31 including a 23-15 mark at home.
- Coach Tudor is in her 18th season as a head coach – ninth on The Hill – and owns a 485-373-2 career coaching record, which includes a 267-169-1 mark at WKU.
- Shelby Nunn climbed to 20-6 on the season with her 15th complete-game outing.
- Bailey Curry now owns six multi-hit games and 16 multi-RBI outings on the season.
- Randi Drinnon has delivered three multi-hit efforts in her last four outings and is up to six multi-hit performances on the year.
How to Follow Hilltopper Softball: For complete information on WKU Softball, follow the team on Twitter at @WKUSoftball, Instagram @WKU_Softball and Facebook /WKUSoftball.
