After a big Saturday at the plate, Taylor Sanders produced more action from the batter's box, going two-for-four with an RBI and a run scored with a .406 average.
WKU 4, MIAMI 8
Getting an early lead, Taylor Sanders get a good shot up the middle that advances leadoff hitter Faith Hegh to home plate, good for an RBI single in the top of one. Later in the inning, Kelsey Schmidt in cleanup pops up to center field for the sacrifice-fly. First baseman Jessica Bush picks up her sixth RBI in six games with an RBI groundout down the right base line to give the Tops a 3-0 lead.
The Redhawks get a piece of a Katie Gardner fastball on a clean count in the top of the second for a two-run home run into right field waging the gap.
WKU calls back with a Taylor Davis RBI groundout to second base, scoring second baseman Abby Newman and giving the Red and White a steady 4-2 lead for the general remainder of the ballgame.
A tough spot in the top of seven, Gardner gets replaced by freshman Maddy Wood after a leadoff walk and single for two on the bases. The Redhawks later notch a grand slam and a two-run home run off Wood to go into a bottom frame. To no avail on the bats for WKU, Miami of Ohio takes the series with the Sunday win, 8-4.
From the circle, Gardner produced her fifth 7+ strikeout game of the season, while working with a 6.00 ERA in six. Wood, who was now stands at 3-1 in her career, collected two strikeouts and a walk in her inning of work.
TOP STORYLINES
- Coming into the weekend with a tied all-time series, Miami of Ohio now takes the series, 5-4.
- Head coach Amy Tudor earned her career 500-win mark in the Tops 9-0 win over Evansville last weekend. She is now at 504 all-time, while 287 as WKU's head coach.
- The Hilltoppers open Conference USA action next weekend on the road, with a trip to UTEP for the first time since 2017.
- On the stat sheet, Taylor Sanders is now leading the Tops with a .406 batting average off of 28 hits, 25 RBIs, and five home runs, Brylee Hage holds 27 hits, while Taylor Davis and TJ Webster are tied at nine stolen bases.
- The Hilltoppers collectively hold 182 hits, 112 RBIs, a .317 batting average with 10 home runs.
- 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.
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