| Hilltopper Classic // Feb. 24-26 // WKU Softball Complex | |||||
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| Game 1: Central Michigan | Friday, Feb. 24 | 3 p.m. CT | BTM (Facebook Live) | Livestats | ||||
| Game 2: Illinois State | Friday, Feb. 24 | 5:30 p.m. CT | BTM (Facebook Live) | Livestats | ||||
| Game 3: Central Michigan | Saturday, Feb. 25 | 12:30 p.m. CT | BTM (Facebook Live) | Livestats | ||||
| Game 4: Jacksonville State | Saturday, Feb. 25 | 3 p.m. CT | BTM (Facebook Live) | Livestats | ||||
| Game 5: Illinois State | Sunday, Feb. 26 | 12:30 p.m. CT | HSSN (Facebook Live) | Livestats | ||||
| Tickets | Single Day: Adults: $10, Youth (3-12): $5 WKU students receive free admission by showing their student ID. Sunday: Free admission by showing a church bulletin |
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| Promotions | Schedule Magnet Giveaway (All Weekend) Autograph Saturdays Free Admission with Church Bulletin (Sunday only) |
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| Game Notes | WKU | Illinois State | | ||||
| Series History | Central Michigan (Lead, 1-0; Full History), Illinois State (Tied, 6-6; Full History), Jacksonville State State (Tied, 2-2; Full History) | ||||
| Social Media | @WKUSoftball  | @WKU Softball  | Facebook  | YouTube  | Tik Tok |
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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Softball is set to open their home field slate this Friday-Sunday at the WKU Softball Complex for their annual Hilltopper Classic. WKU is set to face Central Michigan, Illinois State, and Jacksonville State, playing a total of five games.
The Hilltopper Classic consists of three teams that WKU has matched up against before. This will mark the second and third times WKU has played Central Michigan, the Hilltoppers last played the MAC team last season ago, taking the Chippewas, 10-2 in Bowling Green. WKU will play Illinois State for the 13th time, also meeting last in 2022 and taking the last five games to the Redbirds in the 6-6 tied series. The Tops have seen Jacksonville State four times, with a tied 2-2 series as the Gamecocks are set to join Conference USA this summer.
From the circle, Kelsie Houchens notched the first complete game of her career: a 3-0 shutout over Campbell on Sunday. Through the weekend, she threw seven strikeouts, walked three, and only collected six hits in two games and leads the WKU pitching staff with a 2.29 ERA. Katie Gardner also recorded a complete game in South Carolina. The Bowling Green native saw action in three of five games, picking up 16 strikeouts including 10 in the game with Delaware.
All five weekend games for WKU Softball will feature a livestream on Facebook Live. WKU's Friday and Saturday match ups will be on the secondary stream, Behind the Mic, on Hilltopper Sports Properties Facebook page. Sunday's game against Illinois State will be streamed from the primary HSSN Facebook Live. Hilltopper letterwinner and HAF Executive Director Kat (Downing) Smith will be on the call for Friday and Saturday's games, while the Voice of the Lady Toppers, Brad Klein, will be calling the game Sunday.
For games prior to 4:30 p.m., parking will be available in the first level of Parking Structure 3. Please tell the attendant that you are there for softball. All games past 4:30 p.m. parking is open in the Creason lot past the WKU Softball Complex outfield fences.
Due to the construction for the new WKU Soccer/Softball Complex, the south entrance via Creason Street is closed. Fans can enter and purchase tickets on the north end, down the sidewalk via the Creason lot in between left field and PS3. Concessions and restrooms will be open, but space is constrained due to construction fencing.
COMPLETE WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday
10 a.m. - Central Michigan (H) vs. Jacksonville State (A)
12:30 p.m. - Illinois State (H) vs. Jacksonville State (A)
3:30 p.m. - WKU vs. Central Michigan
5:30 p.m. - WKU vs. Illinois State
Saturday
10 a.m. - Jacksonville State (H) vs. Illinois State (A)
12:30 p.m. - WKU vs. Central Michigan
3 p.m. - WKU vs. Jacksonville State
5:30 p.m. - Illinois State (H) vs. Central Michigan (A)
Sunday
10 a.m. - Central Michigan (H) vs. Jacksonville State (A)
12:30 p.m. - WKU vs. Illinois State
TOP STORYLINES
- WKU Softball will see Central Michigan after their first meeting last season, resulting in a 1-0 Tops victory. Illinois State and WKU are tied in the long standing series, 6-6, while Jacksonville State and WKU are also tied 2-2 as JSU is joining Conference USA this summer.
- The Hilltoppers will face six Power Five teams in seven games this season. The Tops have seen Minnesota, Michigan, and South Carolina this season.
- Head coach Amy Tudor is six wins away from her career 500-win mark. She owns 277 of those wins as the head coach at WKU.
- Senior infielder Taylor Sanders was picked as the C-USA Conference Player of the Week on Monday, now earning her third weekly nod.
- Hosting a five-game homestand this weekend, WKU will be at home for three weekends in a row, starting with the Hilltopper Classic, Hilltopper Spring Fling, and three-game series hosting Miami (OH).
- On the stat sheet, Brylee Hage is leading the tops with a .484 batting average, while also collecting 13 hits on the season. Taylor Sanders holds nine RBIs for 2023, leading WKU.
- As a team, the Hilltoppers are holding with a .308 batting average, 78 hits off the bats with 45 runs scored so far this season.
- 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.
