| 2024 Hilltopper Classic  // Feb. 23-25 // WKU Softball Complex | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Game 11: Detroit Mercy | Friday, Feb. 23 | 3 p.m. CT | Varsity Network | Livestats | ||||
| Game 12: Saint Louis | Friday, Feb. 23 | 5:30 p.m. CT | Varsity Network | Livestats | ||||
| Game 13: Eastern Illinois | Saturday, Feb. 24 | 12:30 p.m. CT | Varsity Network | Livestats | ||||
| Game 14: Detroit Mercy | Saturday, Feb. 24 | 3 p.m. CT | Varsity Network | Livestats | ||||
| Game 15: Saint Louis | Sunday, Feb. 25Â | 12:30 p.m. CT |Â Varsity Network| Â Livestats | ||||
| Promotions | Foul Ball Fridays Any foul ball caught during the game can be brought to the marketing table and exchanged for a prize! Softball Bingo Saturdays Play bingo every Saturday with up to 3 people winning a prize! The Sounds of Sunday Listen to a variety of themed music every Sunday! |
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| Game Notes | WKU | ||||
| Series History | UDM: WKU leads, 5-0, SLU: WKU leads, 3-0, EIU: WKU leads, 3-2 | ||||
| Social Media | @WKUSoftball   | @WKU Softball   | Facebook   | YouTube   | Tik Tok |
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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The WKU Softball team opens its home slate for the annual Hilltopper Classic this weekend, Feb. 23-25, at the WKU Softball Complex. The Tops will play host to Detroit Mercy, Saint Louis, and Eastern Illinois, as the Red and White will host their home opener against Detroit Mercy on Friday at 3 p.m CT.
The Tops are posting 6-3-1 season record after going 3-2 at the Chattanooga Challenge last weekend. Taylor Sanders and Sophie Weber picked up their first home runs of the season, while Morgan Sharpe swung big for the Tops as she recorded a .625 average from the plate through five games.
Detroit Mercy will open their 2024 season at the Hilltopper Classic under new head coach, Dan Vitale. Saint Louis owns a 3-2 record after two weather-impacted tournaments in Ruston, La. and Nashville. The Bilikens picked up wins over Arkansas Pine-Bluff and Indiana State, operating with a .296 batting average and 2.94 ERA in the circle. The Panthers of Eastern Illinois are coming off of 2023 OVC Tournament Championship and started 2024 6-4, they posted a perfect 5-0 record in the first weekend of the season, while hitting .267 and dealing out 56 from the pitching staff.
All WKU games will be broadcast on radio via the Varsity Network. Scott Thompson will be on the call for both Friday games, while Mike Cleff will call Saturday and Sunday's match up against Saint Louis.
Fans can enter and purchase tickets on the north end of the stadium, down the sidewalk via the Creason lot in between left field and PS3. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for youth (3-12) and good for the entire day of games. Flex season tickets packages are still on sale by going online, calling 1-800-5-BIGRED, or visiting the ticket office in-person inside Diddle Arena, students receive free admission by showing their student ID.
Gates will open for fans one hour before the first game.
COMPLETE WEEKEND SCHEDULEÂ
Friday
10 a.m. - Detroit Mercy (H) vs. Eastern Illinois (A)
12:30 p.m. - Saint Louis (H) vs. Eastern Illinois (A)
3:30 p.m. - WKU vs. Detroit Mercy
5:30 p.m. - WKU vs. Saint Louis
Saturday
10 a.m. - Eastern Illinois (H) vs. Saint Louis (A)
12:30 p.m. - WKU vs. Eastern Illinois
3 p.m. - WKU vs. Detroit Mercy
5:30 p.m. - Saint Louis (H) vs. Detroit Mercy (A)
Sunday
10 a.m. - Detroit Mercy (H) vs. Eastern Illinois (A)
12:30 p.m. - WKU vs. Saint Louis
TOP STORYLINES
- The Tops hold the lead in all opponents this weekend in their respective all-time series. WKU has never lost against Detroit Mercy (5-0) and Saint Louis (3-0), while holding a 3-2 advantage against Eastern Illinois. Their last meeting was back at the WKU Softball Complex in 2010.
- WKU is 9-1 in home openers in the Amy Tudor era.
- Freshman Morgan Sharpe is fourth in CUSA with a .516 batting average that also leads the WKU batter's box. Fifth-year Katie Gardner is third amongst pitchers with three victories on the year, while the team as a whole is first in the league with a .974 fielding percentage.
- After this weekend's tournament, the Tops are headed to Louisville for their first midweek game of the season, facing the Cardinals on Tuesday, Feb. 27 to close out the month. WKU will be back in Bowling Green for the Hilltopper Spring Fling, March 1-3.
- On the stat sheet, freshman Morgan Sharpe is leading the tops with a .516 batting average off of 16 hits and senior Taylor Sanders holds nine RBIs, with a .688 slugging for 2024, while leading WKU with two home runs. Fifth-year Katie Gardner boasts a 1.88 ERA from the Hilltopper bullpen in five appearances.
- As a team, the Hilltoppers are posting a .304 batting average, while scoring 39 runs, and picking up 78 hits. The Hilltopper pitching staff is operating with a 2.73 ERA and earning 46 strikeouts from the circle.
- 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.
