Stepping up on the offense was center fielder Brylee Hage on the day. The Nicholasville, Kentucky native was 5-for-12 between all three games, picking up three RBI along the way. Junior Kelsey Schmidt came in along in the batter's box, scoring two runs while hitting three RBI as well. In the circle, Kelsie Houchens came in for relief for the final two innings in the Butler match up, while starting in the first game against the Wolverines, picking up two strikeouts along the way, while senior Katie Gardner pitched a complete nine-inning game against Michigan totaling four strikeouts and a walk.
GAME 1 – WKU 10, BUTLER 0 (RESUMED FROM TOP 4TH)
Resuming play with Brylee Hage on first base, fifth-year Faith Hegh would pick up an RBI, sending Hage home, with a double past the shortstop on the left side.
Continuing the big fourth inning for the Hilltoppers, Taylor Sanders would load the bases while garnering an RBI with a single to left field. Catcher Randi Drinnon would later get hit by the pitch, taking her base and moving everyone along for another run on the board.
After picking up her first collegiate career hit and RBI in the second, outfielder Addy Edgmon would would pick up another RBI single, followed by a RBI single off the bat of Abby Newman in the top of four to close out the scoring for the Tops.
Houchens would retire the next six straight through her two innings in the circle, earning two strikeouts, while Katie Gardner earned the win.
GAME 2 – MICHIGAN 5, WKU 2
With Houchens in the circle, the Wolverines moved quickly, jumping on an RBI double and sacrifice fly to get a 2-0 lead in the first frame.
The next inning, Michigan would take advantage of the top of their line up and runners in scoring position to take two more off a triple into right-center. Freshman Luna Curran later came in for relief for Houchens in her first college appearance. The Florida native walked one, before Michigan's designated hitter popped a shallow ball into right field for WKU to head to the next inning.
Curran would have a strong inning in the bottom of four, starting off with a swinging strikeout at the plate, before earning a groundout, giving up a hit, and striking out the Blue and Maize batter to end the inning.
Michigan would score once more at the top of six, before WKU kept the bats loaded in the top of seven. After Drinnon walked and freshman Kaytlan Kemp curtesy pinch ran, TJ Webster came swinging as a slapper with a shot into left field, earning a double and advancing Kemp to third. Hage would be up next, as she hit a two RBI single up the middle to score both Kemp and Webster.
GAME 3 – MICHIGAN 5, WKU 2 (9 INNINGS)
Starting off with redemption, Katie Gardner and the Hilltoppers held an early lead for most of the game starting off in the first inning. Gardner would kick off her time in the circle with a strikeout to Michigan's lead off hitter, followed by retiring the next two for a quick 1-2-3 top inning. In the bottom half, Hage would lead off, opening up the bats with a shot up the middle before fifth-year Taylor Davis turned on the wheels and made it safe to first on a bunt. Drinnon would be walked to load the bases, later Schmidt would earn the first RBI of the second game hitting a sacrifice fly into right field, sending Hage home for a quick 1-0 start.
The next 2-5 innings for both opponents would go quietly, a collective six hits between both teams were partaken as the Hilltoppers held the lead and Gardner would force 11 groundouts and 11 flyouts. Holding the lead with strong defense also led TJ Webster to turn two on a 6-4-3 double play and end the top of the fourth inning for the first double play of the 2023 season.
Michigan would rally off of a back-to-back single and triple to gain a run, tying the game 1-1 and later sending both teams to extra innings.
In the top of the eight with international rules applied and a runner on second base, a Michigan groundout and pop-fly in subsequent batters would send their runner home and take the edge before the next frame.
In the Tops' next trip to the plate, Davis led off, grounding out and sending runner Brylee Hage to advance to third. After a near walkoff home run into left field off the bat of Taylor Sanders that turned foul, Drinnon would later be walked -- with Kasia Parks in to pinch run -- before Schmidt kept the Tops fate alive with a RBI double into left-center to tie the board.
The ninth and final inning for both teams would be the deciding factor of the day. Michigan's four-spot hitter would go in and hit a lead-off triple to start the inning, followed by two singles through the right side to give a three-run advantage to the visiting team of the game. WKU would push, including TJ Webster and a single up the middle to advance runners, but would suffice in extras.
UP NEXT
WKU vs. Minnesota
Field 1
Watch: FloSoftball | Livestats
Sunday, Feb. 12, 2022 | 8 a.m. CT
TOP STORYLINES
- WKU Softball has faced off against Minnesota one other time in program history, with the series lead going to the Gophers, 0-2.
- The Hilltoppers will face six Power Five teams in seven games this season, with Minnesota and Michigan being the first two in 2023, both from the Big Ten.
- The last shutout for WKU was back on May 8, 2022 where the Tops shutout Middle Tennessee, 7-0, to wrap up the series.
- In four games on the season, five Hilltoppers (Hage, Webster, Drinnon, Edgmon, Sanders) own a .300 or higher batting average.
- Seniors Brylee Hage and TJ Webster have thus far collected a hit in all four game for the Hilltoppers. Hage totals eight on the season, while Webster owns six off the bat.
- The Hilltoppers ended the 2022 season collectively with 38 home runs, 240 RBI, and a .303 batting average from the dugout.
- In the Conference USA Preseason Coaches Poll, the Hilltoppers were predicted to finish second in C-USA, while fifth-year outfielder Taylor Davis was named to the Preseason All-Conference team.
How to Follow Hilltopper Softball: For complete information on WKU Softball, follow the team on Twitter at @WKUSoftball, Instagram @WKU_Softball and Facebook /WKUSoftball.
