| No. 23 Kentucky // April 17 // WKU Softball Complex | |||||
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| Game 41: Kentucky | Wednesday, Apr. 17 | 6 p.m. CT | ESPN+ | Livestats | ||||
| Promotions | Redout Make sure to wear red to support your TOPS! GIVEAWAY Free pizza from Donatos, while supplies last! Receive all 21 players on the roster in a complete trading card set! Foul Ball Everyday Foul balls caught during the game can be brought to the marketing table and exchanged for a prize! |
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| Game Notes | WKU | UK | ||||
| Series History | UK leads, 16-9; Full History | ||||
| Social Media | @WKUSoftball   | @WKU Softball   | Facebook   | YouTube   | Tik Tok |
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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The WKU Softball team is set to face its first ranked opponent of the season, playing host to No. 23 Kentucky, on Wednesday at the WKU Softball Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.
WKU went 1-2 at Ole Miss for their final non-conference series of the 2024 season. Katie Gardner produced her sixth complete game shutout against the Rebels on Friday, as she only gave up three hits and a walk while striking out four in the 3-0 victory. After the Tops' first SEC win since 2022, Taylor Sanders hit back-to-back home runs in the first and fourth innings on Saturday to tie WKU's single-game home runs record at 15. Despite the historic long shots, WKU fell 11-3Â on Saturday, followed up by a 12-3 loss in the series finale.
After three weeks receiving votes in the polls, Kentucky comes into the midweek game No. 23 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Poll after a 2-1 conference series victory over No. 7 Georgia in Lexington. UK's Rylea Smith was named the SEC's Player of the Week for an 8-for-12 weekend against the Bulldogs as she leads the Wildcats with a .385 batting average on the season. Kentucky is 5-10 in conference action, while posting a 26-15 overall record in 2024.
The game will be streamed on ESPN+ with Reily Chestnut and former Tennessee and Florida State pitcher Caylan Arnold on the call.
Stadium tickets inside the complex are sold out. Parking structure tickets inside PS3 still remain and are on sale $10 for adults, $5 for children. Students receive free admission by showing their student ID. Tickets can be purchased at the garage entrance, by calling 1-800-5-BIGRED, or visiting the ticket office in-person inside Diddle Arena prior to the game. Fans with stadium tickets can show their ticket at the complex gate for admission.
Gates will open 1.5 hours before the game.
GAME 42
Wednesday
WKU vs. No. 23 Kentucky
Listen: ESPN+Â |Â Livestats
Wednesday, Apr. 17, 2024 | 6 p.m. CT
TOP STORYLINES
- UK leads the all-time series between the Hilltoppers, 16-9. WKU has won the last two meetings in 2019 and 2021.
- WKU went 1-2 at Ole Miss for their final non-conference series of the season. Katie Gardner produced another complete game shutout in the Tops' 3-0 victory on Friday, as Taylor Sanders tied the program single-game record in home runs with her 14th and 15th homers on the season in Saturday's game.
- Fifth-year TJ Webster is third in CUSA with a .398 batting average. Fifth-year Katie Gardner is third among pitchers in ERA on the year, while tying teammate Rylan Smith in donning 91 strikeouts for second the league.
- After the midweek, the Tops are set to host local rival, Middle Tennessee, for a three-game conference series this weekend.
- On the stat sheet, fifth-year TJ Webster is leading the tops with a .398 batting average off of 45 hits, and fifth-year Taylor Sanders holds 42 RBIs, with a .843 slugging percentage, while leading WKU with 15 home runs. Fifth-year Katie Gardner boasts a 2.39 ERA from the Hilltopper pitching staff in 123.0 innings.
- As a team, the Hilltoppers are posting a .308 batting average, while scoring 197 runs off of 316 hits. The Hilltopper pitching staff is operating with a 3.32 ERA and earning 205 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.
