Gardner Pitches 11-Inning Shutout as Tops Down Jax State

Sunday, April 28

Jacksonville, AL

1 p.m. CT

Western Kentucky University

29-18-1, 14-7

Jacksonville State

22-26, 11-10

Western Kentucky

Jax State

4/28/2024 6:21:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Katie Gardner and WKU Softball earned a 4-0 win in extra innings in the three-game series finale against Jacksonville State on Sunday. The Tops now move to 14-7 in Conference USA action.

Gardner picked up her eighth complete game shutout of the season, while earning six strikeouts from the circle, and is now tied for second all-time with Hilltopper All-American Miranda Kramer for most innings pitched in a single game.

WKU 4, JAX STATE 0

The Tops and Gamecocks stayed scoreless after a regulation seven innings and each team had picked up five hits apiece.

WKU got moving in the top of the 11th inning after loading the bases from a walk and back-to-back singles. Sophie Weber collected her first RBI in 11 games with a single up the middle to take the quick, 1-0 lead.

Randi Drinnon would find the right-center wall for her fifth double of the season and add some insurance with two more runs. Kelsey Schmidt wrapped up scoring with an RBI sacrifice-fly into center field as the Hilltoppers stayed in front, 4-0.

Right-hander Katie Gardner was monumental in the circle for WKU as she threw 11 innings and gave up no runs off of six hits. Despite allowing six walks, Gardner picked up six strikeouts – her most in five games.

TOP STORYLINES

Jax State continues to lead WKU in the all-time series, 5-3.

Taylor Sanders is two RBIs away from breaking the program record at 179. She currently leads the Tops with 49 RBIs on the season.
Randi Drinnon earned her fourth multi-RBI game of the season.
Brylee Hage and Sophie Weber went 3-for-5 at the plate, as four different Hilltoppers picked up a hit during the afternoon.
Webster leads Conference USA with a .404 batting average and 55 hits at the plate.
The Red and White are tied with NM State in leading Conference USA in batting average (.300). They lead the league in fielding percentage (.970) on the season.
Katie Gardner is operating with a 2.45 ERA to lead the WKU pitching staff, producing 117 strikeouts at the plate. Rylan Smith is next in line with a 3.95 ERA with 97 strikeouts.
WKU is back for one final weekend of the regular season at home to face UTEP, May 3-5, at the WKU Softball Complex.

How to Follow Hilltopper Softball: For complete information on WKU Softball, follow the team on X at @WKUSoftball, Instagram @WKU_Softball, and Facebook/WKUSoftball.