Redshirt-junior Cheyanne Sales went 4-for-5 in the batter's box with a double on the day, while freshman Kendle White got her first career start in right field, collecting her first hit and RBI between both games.
GAME 1: WKU 7, ARMY 1
The Tops kicked off scoring right away with a deep single into left field of the bat of Cheyanne Sales, sending Taylor Sanders across home and advancing Morgan Sharpe to third base. Sharpe later made her way across the plate after catcher Randi Drinnon found the gap between first and second base for an RBI and an early 2-0 for the Red and White.
WKU jumped to a 3-0 lead after a big double hit the wall in right-center field off of Sanders' bat and bringing in Brylee Hage who reached the bag on fielder's choice in the second inning.
The lone run for the Golden Knights of Army was brought in off of a solo home run on the left field line from Army's Newburn in the top of the fifth inning.
Four more go-ahead runs were obtained from the Hilltoppers in the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings after a two-run single from first baseman Jessica Bush and another two-run single from left fielder Kelsey Schmidt.
In the circle, freshman Rylan Smith earned her first career start, going hitless until the fifth inning. She ultimately drew two walks and one hit-by-pitch while dealing six strikeouts to earn the win. Redshirt-junior Kelsie Houchens closed down in the seventh inning, drawing a walk before retiring three batters.
GAME 2: WKU 7, NC STATE 2
The Red and White got off the ground running with a monumental six-run opening frame that resulted WKU batting through the order and three different pitchers for the Wolfpack. Hage and Sanders hit back-to-back singles to get on base before Sharpe picked up a fielders' choice and sent Hage to third. Off the 2-1 pitch, Cheyanne Sales singled through the left side to pick up the first run of the ballgame.
After Drinnon took her base after four balls and with bases loaded, White notched her first career RBI from a single to right before before NC State made their first pitching change of the inning. With Rylee Wyman now in the circle, Schmidt took a bases-loaded walk followed up by shortstop TJ Webster reaching the bag from a Wolfpack fielding error and eventually a single through right field from Hage to drive in the final three runs of the frame. After WKU picked up its sixth run of the game, Maxton was substituted off of the mound for right-hander Aisha Weixlmann who finished out the rest of the game.
In the top of the second inning, Drinnon shot out a wall-reaching double into left-center field to score Sales, who reached on a double of her own, for the final points for WKU.
Only picking up four hits in seven innings, the Wolfpack gained its only runs in the third frame from an RBI double and solo home run right down the middle off the bat of Michele Tarpey.
On the defensive side of the ball, right-hander Katie Gardner picked up win no. 2 from an eight strikeout performance only allowing four hits and one walk in a complete game.
Game 5
WKU vs. Kansas
Field 1
Watch: GameChanger | Livestats
Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024 | 12 p.m. CT
TOP STORYLINES
- Now meeting Army West-Point for the first time in program history, WKU leads the series, 1-0. In the first meeting since 2007, WKU now leads the series with NC State, 2-1.
- WKU's 12-hit game against Army marks the first double-digit hit game for the Hilltoppers since FIU back on April 30 in Miami.
- The Tops' win over NC State marks the first Power Five win since the 3-1 win over No. 5 Alabama in 2022.
- The Hilltoppers will face seven Power Five teams in nine games this season, with Iowa, NC State, and Kansas being the first three and from the Big Ten, ACC, and Big 12 conferences.
- Collectively, Cheyanne Sales hit .800 on the afternoon with a 4-for-5 performance at the plate. She currently leads the Tops' hitters with a .500 average.
- With two complete games under her belt, Katie Gardner owns a 2-0 2024 record and leads the bullpen with a .50 ERA.
- In the Conference USA Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Hilltoppers were predicted to finish second in CUSA, while fifth-year infielders Taylor Sanders and TJ Webster along with right-hander Katie Gardner were named CUSA Preseason All-Conference.
How to Follow Hilltopper Softball: For complete information on WKU Softball, follow the team on X at @WKUSoftball, Instagram @WKU_Softball, and Facebook/WKUSoftball.
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