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Meeting nine times in program history, the Hilltoppers hold the upperhand in 7-2 all-time results. The last match ups were last season in Bowling Green for another three-game series, in which the Red and White swept their league opponent and run-ruled them in the Sunday finale.
Last weekend on The Hill, WKU went 1-2Â in front of their home crowd against Miami (OH) that included the largest runs scored from the Hilltopper offense (15) this season. From the box, fifth-year Faith Hegh secured her first back-to-back home runs, along with junior Kelsey Schmidt notching her first homerun as a Hilltopper in the Tops' victory over the Redhawks. Senior Taylor Sanders also popped out her second game featuring two back-to-back homeruns in Saturday's nightcap. From the circle, the Hilltoppers' pitching staff combined for 21 strikeouts over the three games. Senior Katie Gardner worked for her fifth 7+ strikeout game this season.
The games will be available to stream on CUSAtv.
GAMES 24-26
Friday
WKU at UTEPÂ (9-14)
CUSAtv | Livestats
Friday, Mar. 17, 2023 | 7 p.m. CT
Saturday
WKU at UTEP
CUSAtv | Livestats
Saturday, Mar. 18, 2023 | 4 p.m. CT
Sunday
WKU at UTEP
CUSAtv | Livestats
Sunday, Mar. 19, 2023 | 1 p.m. CT
TOP STORYLINES
- WKU Softball will see the Miners for the 10th, 11th, and 12th times in program history, which is a 7-2 WKU overall decision. UTEP and WKU last met in Bowling Green, which the Tops run-ruled the Miners 9-0 to close out the conference series.
- Head coach Amy Tudor earned her career 500-win mark in the Hilltoppers 9-0 shutout over Evansville. She owns 286 of those wins as the head coach at WKU.
- In Conference USA rankings, Katie Gardner is first in strikeouts (75), while third baseman Taylor Sanders is third in the league in on-base percentage (.513). As a unit, the Hilltoppers are first in conference in field percentage (.979), and holds steady at second in batting average (.314), and first in shutouts (6) this season.
- After hosting two tournaments and a non-conference series over the past three weeks, WKU is on the road this weekend to head back to Bowling Green to face the North Texas Mean Green on The Hill after the 2022 C-USA Tournament Championship.
- On the stat sheet, Taylor Sanders is leading the tops with a .406 batting average, while also collecting 28 hits, 25 RBIs, and five home runs on the season. Redshirt-sophomore Kelsie Houchens boasts 3.51 ERA from the Hilltopper bullpen in 12 appearances, while senior Katie Gardner owns 75 strikeouts and five complete games.
- As a team, the Hilltoppers are holding with a .317 batting average, 192 hits off the bats with 120 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.
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