OLE MISS 12, WKU 3 [5inn.]
Ole Miss got a head start in the first inning with a grand slam to bring a 4-0 lead.
Taylor Sanders picked up her 42nd RBI of the season off of a double down the left field line in the top of the third frame that scored TJ Webster for a three-run game. Webster made her way on base off of a single and stole second base for her 11th stolen bag of the season.
The Hilltoppers continued the momentum into the fourth, Sophie Weber drew a walk and advanced to second base on a wild pitch before Morgan Sharpe hit her third triple of the season into center field and drew in a run. Randi Drinnon would later hit an RBI groundout back to the pitcher's circle to score Sharpe and bring a one-run ballgame.
The Rebels kept pushing as they plated two in the fourth inning from a home run and sacrifice-fly before run-ruling the Tops in the bottom of the fifth after scoring five more runs.
Fifth-year Katie Gardner got the start in the circle, she gave up seven runs off of seven hits and earned a strikeout before freshman Rylan Smith came in for relief.
TOP STORYLINES
- Ole Miss holds on to the all-timer series over the Hilltoppers, 4-3.
- After picking up the first RBI for the Tops today, Taylor Sanders is eight RBIs away from tying the program's career RBI record.
- Five different Hilltoppers picked up a hit during the afternoon.
- Morgan Sharpe leads the Tops with three triples on the season, picking up her first since Feb. 23 against Saint Louis.
- TJ Webster continues to lead the Tops with a .393 batting average, while Morgan Sharpe owns 49 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 2.39 ERA to lead the WKU pitching staff, producing 91 strikeouts at the plate. Rylan Smith is next in line with a 3.80 ERA and also with 91 strikeouts.
- WKU will head back to Bowling Green to face in-state rival Kentucky for their final midweek game of the season, Wednesday, April 17 at 6 pm CT. The game will also be broadcast on ESPN+.
How to Follow Hilltopper Softball: For complete information on WKU Softball, follow the team on X at @WKUSoftball, Instagram @WKU_Softball, and Facebook/WKUSoftball.
