| Arkansas  // April 24 // WKU Softball Complex | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 45: No. 12 Arkansas | Monday, Apr. 24 | 6 p.m. CT | HSSN on Facebook | Livestats | ||||
| Promotions | -Popsicles to first 100 students -Red Towel giveaway -TJ Webster Trading Card giveaway |
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| Game Notes | WKUÂ | Arkansas | ||||
| Series History | ARK Leads, 2-1; Full History | ||||
| Social Media | @WKUSoftball   | @WKU Softball   | Facebook   | YouTube   | Tik Tok |
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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Western Kentucky Softball Program is set to play its final midweek of the 2023 season as they host ranked SEC opponent Arkansas at the WKU Softball Complex in Bowling Green. The contest on Monday, April 24 is set for a scheduled 6 p.m. CT first pitch.
Only meeting three times in program history, the Razorbacks and Hilltoppers hold a 2-1 all-time series, as Arkansas was last in Bowling Green in 2022 in an 8-2 match up, taking a late seventh inning rally. The lone WKU victory was a 1-0 neutral tournament win in 2007 in Tampa.
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Battling in front of the home crowd, WKU fell just short to in-state rival Louisville 3-2, as the Tops outhit the Cardinals and Katie Gardner threw a five strikeout effort from the circle. The Hilltoppers took their first series outright since the March sweep over North Texas back on The Hill. In a pair of one-run games, WKU defeated Florida Atlantic, 3-2, in Saturday's first doubleheader game, followed by a 1-0 shutout in the second match up. Katie Gardner and Kelsie Houchens both went in for complete games, totaling 12 strikeouts at the plate.
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Streaming will be available on the Hilltopper Sports Satellite Network via Facebook Live for the midweek match up. "Voice of the Lady Toppers", Brad Klein, will be on the call.
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.
GAMEÂ 45
Monday
WKU vs. No. 12 Arkansas
Watch:Â HSSNÂ |Â Livestats
Monday, Apr. 24, 2023 | 6 p.m. CT
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TOP STORYLINES
- Arkansas and WKU have a 2-1 all-time series record in the Razorbacks' favor. WKU's lone win was a 1-0 shutout in 2007.
- Head coach Amy Tudor earned her career 500-win mark in the Hilltoppers 9-0 shutout over Evansville. She is 514 all-time and owns 297 of those wins as the head coach at WKU.
- Pitcher Katie Gardner is ranked first in C-USA in strikeouts this season (162), while Faith Hegh is second in the league in batting average (.398) and Taylor Sanders is third with home runs (9) and first in RBIs per game (1.18). As a unit, the Hilltoppers are second in conference in batting average (.290).
- Faith Hegh leads the nation in doubles this season with 18. She is one double away from tying the single-season record in program history.
- WKU is back on the road for the final time in regular season with a three-game series in Miami to take on FIU.
- On the stat sheet, Faith Hegh is leading the tops with a .398 batting average off of 53 hits and 30 RBIs, while Taylor Davis is collecting 49 hits and 17 stolen baess on the season. The Tops' Taylor Sanders holds 39 RBIs for 2023, while leading WKU with nine home runs. Senior Katie Gardner boasts a 3.69 ERA from the Hilltopper bullpen in 32 appearances.
- As a team, the Hilltoppers are holding with a .290 batting average, 330 hits off the bats with 199 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.
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How to Follow Hilltopper Softball: For complete information on WKU Softball, follow the team on Twitter at @WKUSoftball, Instagram @WKU_Softball and Facebook/WKUSoftball.
