Taylor Sanders picked up three home runs in the day, earning eight RBIs, slugging 2.167 during the afternoon. TJ Webster picked up an amazing feat during the later Detroit Mercy match up: an inside-the-park grand slam into right-center field during the second inning, accomplishing an IP home run for the second time of her career.
GAME 1: WKU 12, EASTERN ILLINOIS 1 [5inn.]
The Tops opened up on the board with an RBI groundout from Taylor Sanders in the first inning, scoring Hage who made her way on base from a single into left field.
In the second frame, the Red and White would add four more runs on the board for a 5-0 ballgame after Hage earned a two-run RBI double. Next at-bat, Sanders hit her first big shot of the day: a two-run home run right on the left field line towards the foul pole and totaled three RBIs before the third inning.
Starting with Addy Edgmon, the Tops hit four back-to-back singles in the bottom of the third frame to bring a 6-0 ballgame. After a pitching change for the Panthers, Hage would be hit-by-pitch with bases loaded, bringing in another run.
Sanders picked up her fourth career multi-home run game after taking a swing at the first pitch and taking it deep into left field, finalizing the Tops on offense with a 12-0 game after three.
Eastern Illinois beat the shutout from the WKU pitching staff, an RBI double would drive in a run in the top of the fifth frame.
Rylan Smith got the start and the win in the circle, only giving up three hits with no runs or walks while dealing three strikeouts at the plate. Kelsie Houchens would come in the final inning, giving up just the one run.
GAME 2: WKU 13, DETROIT MERCY 1 [5inn.]
The visitors from Detroit Mercy collected the first run of the game, driven by an RBI double into right-center field in the top of two.
In the bottom half of the frame, the Red and White loaded the bases from drawing two walks and a hit-by-pitch before TJ Webster came to the plate. Bringing out her speed, the shortstop earned her second career inside-the-park home run, clearing the bases and called safe at home herself from a shot bouncing off the right-center field wall on a full count.
With a 4-1 Tops lead into the third inning, Addy Edgmon would record a sacrifice-fly, scoring Sanders who was awarded the base after an obstruction call on the Detroit Mercy catcher. The Hilltoppers would record three more runs from two RBI singles and advancing on a passed ball behind the backstop to bring a 10-1 contest.
With a 0-0 count, Sanders would earn her third home run of the day with a drive over the left field wall for the final two runs scored in the third inning.
The Tops wrapped up the ballgame 13-1, from Randi Drinnon scoring on a Titans fielding error in the outfield.
Collecting her first start and first win of the season, Kelsie Houchens saw 3.0 innings of action in the circle, giving up one run off of two hits while striking out three. In her pitching debut, left-hander Annie White wrapped up the final two innings on defense, only giving up two hits white striking out two at the plate.
TOP STORYLINES
- WKU holds higher ground against Eastern Illinois, now leading the all-time series, 4-2. The Tops remain undefeated all-time against Detroit Mercy after this afternoon, 7-0.
- Taylor Sanders went yard at the WKU Softball Complex, driving in eight RBI with four hits, including three home runs.
- Only the second of her career, TJ Webster earned a rare inside-the-park grand slam into right-center field in the second inning of the Detroit Mercy game. The last grand slam for WKU was hit by Taylor Sanders in 2022.
- Webster, Brylee Hage, and Morgan Sharpe each earned three hits on the day, while Kelsey Schmidt and Sophie Weber hit a pair of hits from the plate.
- Redshirt-junior Kelsie Houchens picked up her first start of the season against Detroit Mercy, also earning her first win of 2024. Freshman Annie White saw action for the first time this season in the circle, closing out for Houchens, picking up two strikeouts.
- From the WKU pitching staff, Katie Gardner holds a 2.16 ERA and 20 strikeouts, while Rylan Smith leads with 29 strikeouts from the circle off of a 2.18 ERA.
- Morgan Sharpe is continuing to lead the Tops with a .533 batting average and 24 hits on the season. Slugging .837, Taylor Sanders is atop of the WKU hitters with five home runs on the year.
How to Follow Hilltopper Softball: For complete information on WKU Softball, follow the team on X at @WKUSoftball, Instagram @WKU_Softball, and Facebook/WKUSoftball.
