All four pitchers of the WKU pitching staff saw action on the day, combining for a total of nine strikeouts. Junior Randi Drinnon went 3-for-4 between both games and brought in three RBIs. Freshman Morgan Sharpe also saw offensive action at the plate with a hit in each ballgame, while fifth-year transfer Sophie Weber picked up her first career hit as a Hilltopper against UTC.
Game 1: NORTH ALABAMA 3, WKU 1
The Hilltoppers got the early edge with a single off the bat of Randi Drinnon down the left field line to send Morgan Sharpe across home plate for the 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Sharpe made her way around the bags after a single right back to the pitcher's circle, then advanced off of a single to right field from Cheyanne Sales.
The Lions tied the ballgame after a fielder's choice up the middle in the top of the second frame, before Katie Gardner worked her way out of the inning with a groundout.
The final runs of the game came from North Alabama, off of a triple into right field and later a Hilltopper fielding error in the fourth inning.
Katie Gardner now moves to 2-1 on the season, getting her fourth start of the year. She picked up two strikeouts, while allowing three runs off of five hits. Maddy Wood came in for relief in the fifth inning, retiring two at the plate and giving up three hits.
Game 2: CHATTANOOGA 7, WKU 5
WKU got moving in the second inning as Brylee Hage made her way to first base off of a Chattanooga fielding error, scoring Ava Lunsford. Lunsford made her way around the bases after being walked in her first-career start at first base. The Mocs came back with a one-run advantage, scoring two off of a Hilltopper outfield error in the bottom half of the frame.
Chattanooga finished up on the board, tallying on five more runs between the third, fourth, and fifth innings, including a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth frame.
The Tops didn't back down, drawing an explosive top fifth inning to be within one run of UTC. The offense started with singles from Hage and Taylor Sanders before Cheyanne Sales drew the third walk for the Hilltoppers on the evening to load the bases. Randi Drinnon came swinging on the 2-1 pitch and singled right up the middle to score Hage and Sanders. Next up, Addy Edgmon reached on a fielder's choice before Kelsey Schmidt came in to pinch hit, and scored two more from a single into right-center field.
In the top of the sixth inning, Taylor Sanders landed on second base after a two-out double into left-center field before a heavy rain overcame Frost Stadium. The game was temporarily suspended before the umpires called the contest from the last fully-completed inning.
From the circle, freshman Rylan Smith got the start and pitched her way through 3.0 innings, retiring three at the plate and giving up three runs off of four hits as she moves to 1-1 on the year. Redshirt-junior Kelsie Houchens faced six batters from the circle before sophomore Maddy Wood closed, giving up a run and a hit and recording her first strikeout of 2024.
Games 7-10:
WKU vs. North Alabama
Frost Stadium| Chattanooga, Tenn.
Livestats
Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024 | 9 a.m. CT
WKU vs. Murray State (2-3)
Warner Park – Field #2| Chattanooga, Tenn.
Livestats
Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024 | 11:30 a.m. CT
WKU vs. Ball State (1-4)
Warner Park – Field #2| Chattanooga, Tenn.
Livestats
Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024 | 10 a.m. CT
TOP STORYLINES
- North Alabama, head coach Amy Tudor's alma mater, now leads the all-time series 1-0, as the programs have never met before this weekend. WKU still leads the series with Chattanooga, 5-3.
- Junior Randi Drinnon went 3-for-4 at the plate, picking up three RBIs for the Red and White, while freshman Morgan Sharpe also picked up a hit in each game of the day.
- Every member of the WKU pitching staff saw action in the circle on the day. Freshman Rylan Smith led the defense with four strikeouts in 3.0 innings of work, while sophomore Maddy Wood saw time in both games and recorded three retired at the plate.
How to Follow Hilltopper Softball: For complete information on WKU Softball, follow the team on X at @WKUSoftball, Instagram @WKU_Softball, and Facebook/WKUSoftball
