Cheyanne Sales and Kelsey Schmidt each hit home runs during the day, Schmidt capitalizing and picking up her first career multi-home run game against Saint Louis. The Tops saw plenty of action at the plate against the Billikens, picking up a season-high 14 hits as a team on offense.
GAME 1: WKU 8, DETROIT MERCY 0 [5inn.]
With the Tops at-bat for the first time, Morgan Sharpe earned herself a triple into right-center field before Taylor Sanders would draw a walk against Detroit Mercy in the bottom of the first inning. A double steal with both runners would land Sharpe across home plate and an early 1-0 lead for the Red and White.
The Tops would pick up their second run of the ballgame on a Titans throwing error, bringing Kelsey Schmidt to reach first base and TJ Webster to cross home in the fourth inning. Later in the frame, Cheyanne Sales would hit her 14th career home run right down the middle to earn three RBIs and drive a five-run gap on the scoreboard.
In the bottom of the fifth, a Webster RBI single would add another run to the board and give the shortstop her fifth RBI of the season. A wild pitch from the circle would bring Sophie Weber across the plate from third, who made her way around the bases after hit-by-pitch in the batter's box. From the wild pitch, Detroit Mercy produced a throwing error from the backstop and led way for Webster to run home and walk-off in the fifth inning via run-rule.
Freshman Rylan Smith started in the circle, now going 3-1 on the season. The right-hander earned five strikeouts, while only allowing three walks and a hit in 4.0 innings. Redshirt-junior Kelsie Houchens closed out in the top of the fifth, picking up her first two strikeouts of 2024.
GAME 2: WKU 6, SAINT LOUIS 5 [8inn.]
The Tops got going in the first inning with a 1-0 lead after Taylor Sanders hit a sacrifice-fly in foul territory to send Morgan Sharpe tagging and heading for home plate. Sharpe made her way on base with her second leadoff triple of the day.
On the 3-1 pitch, Kelsey Schmidt picked up her first home run of the season into center field for a solo shot in the third inning.
In Schmidt's next at-bat, she took a swing at the 2-0 pitch and drove the ball over the center field wall for a two-run home run and the seventh of her career.
The Billikens made their way on the board with a solo shot into center in the fifth inning, before a big sixth frame tied the game from an RBI single, groundout, and double.
As WKU heads into their first extra innings game of the season, Saint Louis takes advantage scoring on a wild pitch in the top half of the frame.
The Hilltoppers tied the ballgame after Brylee Hage drew a bases-loaded walk with one out on the board. Hitting .625 on the day, Sharpe hit a laser through the left side to send Webster home and walk-off the contest.
Katie Gardner got the win going 7.1 innings, picking up a strikeout, and allowing seven hits from the Saint Louis batter's box. Maddy Wood came in for relief in the sixth inning, but gave up three runs off of four hits before Gardner returned to the circle and closed out the ballgame.
TOP STORYLINES
- The Tops remain undefeated against both opponents today, holding a 6-0 all-time record against Detroit Mercy, while posting 4-0 all-time against Saint Louis.
- Kelsey Schmidt and Sophie Weber both hit .667 at the plate on the day, as Schmidt collected two home runs and went 4-for-6, while Weber made her way on base twice and hit 2-for-3.
- The Tops collective 14 hits against Saint Louis marks the most WKU hits in a ballgame since FIU back in April 2023. The program record is set at 19 hits as a team.
- Rylan Smith carried out a perfect 0.00 ERA in 4.0 innings in the circle today, only giving up a hit to Detroit Mercy. Smith is leading the Hilltopper pitching staff with 26 strikeouts.
- Morgan Sharpe is leading the Tops with a .538 batting average at the plate. She's garnered 21 hits, 26 total bases, and slugging .667 in the box.
How to Follow Hilltopper Softball: For complete information on WKU Softball, follow the team on X at @WKUSoftball, Instagram @WKU_Softball, and Facebook/WKUSoftball.
