Four different Hilltoppers had multi-hit afternoons, as freshman Morgan Sharpe collected three against North Alabama with five hits in total.
Game 1: WKU 7, NORTH ALABAMA 3
With freshman Rylan Smith in the circle for the Hilltoppers, the Lions of North Alabama got ahead, 3-0, in the bottom of the third inning after a Hilltopper error, triple down the right field line, and sacrifice-fly for the designated home team.
The Tops made their way on the board in the top of four after fifth-year Sophie Weber doubled into left-center field. The next inning at-bat for WKU, fifth-year Brylee Hage scored after a single off the bat of fifth-year Taylor Sanders as the Tops trail 3-2 after five.
An explosive sixth inning for the Red and White, the Tops collected five runs off of two hits to the Lions defense courtesy of a two-RBI single from freshman Morgan Sharpe. Next at-bat for the Tops, Sanders swings at the first pitch thrown, going over the right-center field wall for the first home run for WKU in 2024. Picking up three RBIs, it was the last scoring play of the morning ballgame.
Freshman Rylan Smith got the start in the circle for the Red and White, going 3.0 innings and allowing three runs off of five hits. Sophomore Maddy Wood came in for relief at the start of the fourth frame, collecting two strikeouts and holding North Alabama to no runs in her first win of the season.
Game 2: WKU 3, MURRAY STATE 2
In her third complete game of the season, Katie Gardner dealt out two strikeouts in the first four innings of the ballgame before the Racers got on the board first with an RBI sacrifice-bunt in the bottom of the fourth.
Answering the run by the Racers, WKU got going from back-to-back singles from junior Randi Drinnon and senior Kelsey Schmidt before fifth-year TJ Webster reached on a Murray State fielding error, scoring pinch runner Becca Campbell. A 3-1 walk drawn by Brylee Hage would load the bases as sophomore Morgan Sharpe would single through the left side and bring Schmidt home for the 2-1 lead after the top of five.
Murray State would tie the game in the bottom of the six from an RBI single into left, before Taylor Sanders and the Tops would comeback in the seventh frame. Leadoff Brylee Hage and Sharpe would go back-to-back with singles before Sanders would send Hage across home plate and collect her fifth RBI of the morning in the Tops' 3-2 victory.
Fifth-year Katie Gardner got her fifth start and third complete game in the circle. The Bowling Green native produced six strikeouts and allowed two runs off of four hits from the Murray State bats.
Game 10:
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 and WKU are now tied in the all-time series, 1-1. Longtime local rival, Murray State and the Tops are 10-3 in the Red and White's favor.
- Freshman Morgan Sharpe is leading the WKU hitters with a .481 batting average and 13 hits.
- Sharpe went 5-for-7 between both ballgames in the morning, while Taylor Sanders hit .428 combined in both contests and the first home run of the season against North Alabama. Sanders led the Hilltoppers with nine home runs in 2023.
- From the WKU pitching staff, Katie Gardner owns a 1.88 ERA and has retired 19 at the plate with a 3-1 season record.
How to Follow Hilltopper Softball: For complete information on WKU Softball, follow the team on X at @WKUSoftball, Instagram @WKU_Softball, and Facebook/WKUSoftball.
