Runs on the board came in late innings for WKU, as Brylee Hage and TJ Webster had multi-hit efforts in the series opener and Cheyanne Sales collected her fourth home run of the season.
WKU 6, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 2
The Hilltoppers and Blue Raiders kept things quiet at the WKU Softball Complex, as both teams had recorded just one hit up until the bottom of the fifth inning.
Kelsey Schmidt picked up a leadoff double to left-center field to kick off the Hilltopper offense in the fifth. Randi Drinnon sent her to third from a single through the right side before TJ Webster earned her 11th RBI of the season on bunt that landed Schmidt across home plate.
Later in the inning, Taylor Sanders edged closer to the all-time RBIs record with a sacrifice-fly into center field to send Drinnon home. With two outs in the frame, Cheyanne Sales swung on the full count to pick up a two-run home run into left field and earn her fourth homer of the season.
A Hilltopper error and RBI double led Middle Tennessee to break up the shutout and score an unearned run in the sixth, but two more insurance runs from WKU set up a five-run ballgame. Back-to-back RBI singles off the bats of Hage and Webster put the Tops ahead, 6-1.
Middle Tennessee cut the margin to four runs with an RBI groundout in the seventh, but pitcher Katie Gardner closed out the complete game with a strikeout to earn the win.
Gardner now leads the WKU pitching staff with 12 wins on the season. In another great performance in the circle, she gave up just one earned run off of three hits, gave up no walks and earned seven strikeouts – the most strikeouts in her last 13 starts.
TOP STORYLINES
- The Hilltoppers continue to lead Middle Tennessee, 48-34, in the all-time series.
- Cheyanne Sales earned the Tops' 33rd home run of the season, her fourth on the year.
- Picking up an RBI from a sacrifice-fly, Taylor Sanders is just seven RBIs away from tying the program's all-time RBIs leader.
- Brylee Hage and TJ Webster had multi-hit evenings at the plate. Webster leads WKU with 14 multi-hit games on the year, as Hage follows with 12.
- Webster leads the Tops with a .395 batting average, while Morgan Sharpe owns 49 hits on the season.
- The Red and White continue to lead Conference USA in batting average (.306) and fielding percentage (.971) on the season.
- Katie Gardner is operating with a 2.53 ERA to lead the WKU pitching staff, producing 100 strikeouts at the plate. Rylan Smith is next in line with a 4.06 ERA with 92 strikeouts.
- The Hilltoppers are set to see Middle Tennessee again for game two of the series, tomorrow at the WKU Softball Complex. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. CT.
How to Follow Hilltopper Softball: For complete information on WKU Softball, follow the team on X at @WKUSoftball, Instagram @WKU_Softball, and Facebook/WKUSoftball.
