The Hilltoppers' all-time home runs leader, Taylor Sanders, had another multi-home run day at the plate, picking up her 14th and 15th homers of the season to tie the program's single-season record.
OLE MISS 11, WKU 3 [6inn.]
Off the 1-1 pitch in the first inning, Taylor Sanders drove the ball down the left field line. The ball ricocheted off the foul pole into fair territory behind the wall for her 14th home run of the season and gave WKU the early 1-0 lead.
Ole Miss picked up a grand slam in the bottom half of the frame, to take the lead the rest of the ballgame before an RBI triple and sacrifice-fly would draw a five run-margin after two innings.
In the top of the fourth, Sanders would swing past the left field wall to tie the program's single-season home runs record with 15. After her at-bat, Annie White notched her third home run on the year right down the middle into center field as the Tops were down by three runs.
The Rebels plated three more in the fourth inning from a pair of bases-loaded walks and an RBI single. The home team walked off the game from an RBI double in the bottom of the sixth.
Freshman Rylan Smith earned her 16th start in the circle for the Red and White, now moving her season record to 9-6. She gave up six runs off of five hits in two innings pitching, despite striking out three at the plate. Redshirt-junior Kelsie Houchens saw action for 2.2 innings, before Maddy Wood came in for her relief in the bottom of the fourth inning.
TOP STORYLINES
- WKU and Ole Miss are once again tied in the all-time series, 3-3.
- Taylor Sanders is now tied with the program's single-season home runs record at 15.
- Sanders and Annie White combined for three home runs on the day for the Tops' first three-home run game since NM State on March 10.
- Sophie Weber and Sanders had multi-hit days at the plate, Sanders was a perfect 3-for-3 in the box.
- TJ Webster continues to lead the Tops with a .400 batting average, while Morgan Sharpe owns 47 hits on the season. Sharpe leads the league in hits.
- The Red and White continue to lead Conference USA in batting average (.308) and fielding percentage (.975) on the season.
- Katie Gardner is operating with a 2.04 ERA to lead the WKU pitching staff, producing 90 strikeouts at the plate. Rylan Smith is next in line with a 3.46 ERA and 91 strikeouts.
- The Hilltoppers and Rebels will play for the series tomorrow, April 14 at 1 pm CT at the Ole Miss Softball Complex. The game is on SECN+.
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