WKU took a 2-0 lead in the opening frame starting off with Brylee Hage taking a first pitch triple to the right field fence and get on the bag. A fielder's choice and walk for the Red and White, Randi Drinnon came in big fourth in the line up with a double into left field and scoring both TJ Webster and Taylor Sanders.
Freshman Addy Edgmon would tally up the hits and RBI in her first weekend of college softball. Edgmon would hit a deep single and pick up the RBI as Sanders would head home from her previous walked at-bat. The Hilltoppers would pick up their last run of the game as second baseman Abby Newman would take a based-loaded walk, giving the Tops a 4-0 start to the ballgame.
Minnesota would later gain some traction as shortstop Jess Oakland hit a two-run home run into left-center field in the bottom of the third, putting the Gophers on the board. UMN would eventually hit a double in the fourth inning good for an RBI, but the Tops held the tie as Kelsey Schmidt and Randi Drinnon earned the 3-2 double-play and end the inning by catching the batter and runner at third.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Gophers took over with two home runs and a bases-loaded walk to finalize the board.
All four pitchers in the Hilltoppers' bullpen saw action in the circle today, accumulating seven runs off of seven hits, walking five, and striking out three.
TOP STORYLINES
- Minnesota owns the series with a 4-0, lead over WKU.
- 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.
- Junior Kelsey Schmidt went two-for-three on the morning, her best yet as a Hilltopper.
- Senior Brylee Hage has thus far collected a hit in all five game for the Hilltoppers. Hage totals nine on the season.
- 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.
