Kelsie Houchens and Rylan Smith combined for eight strikeouts from the circle, as TJ Webster went 3-for-3 and picked up an RBI at the plate in the two-run game.
WKU 4, MIDDLE TENNESSEE 2
WKU got the head start from an RBI double off the bat of Cheyanne Sales to pull an early 1-0 lead after one inning.
The Blue Raiders then took a 2-1 lead in the third frame from a two-out, two-run home run.
After a scoreless fourth, Taylor Sanders tied the ballgame in the fifth inning from a double into right-center field, earning her 44th RBI of the season.
WKU picked up the go-ahead and an insurance run from back-to-back RBI singles from Brylee Hage and TJ Webster in the bottom of the sixth.
Kelsie Houchens earned her third start of the season, working through three innings and struck out three at the plate before Rylan Smith took over. Smith gave up no runs off of two hits and picked up five strikeouts in four innings in the circle. Her three-strikeout outing in fifth frame was the first three-strikeout inning of the season from the WKU pitching staff.
TOP STORYLINES
- The Hilltoppers continue to lead Middle Tennessee, 49-34, in the all-time series.
- Taylor Sanders' RBI double in the fifth inning brings her career total to 172. She is now six RBIs away from tying the program record.
- TJ Webster was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, the only multi-hit outing for a Hilltopper over the afternoon.
- Webster leads the Tops with a .410 batting average, while her and Morgan Sharpe own 50 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 3.90 ERA and 97 strikeouts.
- The Hilltoppers and Middle Tennessee will wrap up the series, tomorrow, April 21 at the WKU Softball Complex. First pitch is scheduled 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.
