Gardner worked in the circle, earning her fifth complete-game shutout of the season as she retired six at the plate. The fifth-year flirted with a perfect game; going three-up, three-down with the Liberty offense until the sixth inning.
WKU 1, LIBERTY 0
The Tops lone run was scored in the second inning: a sacrifice-fly from Morgan Sharpe. Cheyanne Sales picked up the first hit of the ballgame with a single up the middle, before advancing on a groundout and passed ball. Sales also picked up the other Hilltopper hit of night in the fourth inning.
Katie Gardner pitched the best game of her long-tenured career in the circle at the Liberty Softball Stadium. She retired 15 straight before giving up a walk to the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the sixth inning. A bunt single on the line would break up the no-hitter before Gardner and her defense would work their way out of bases-loaded in the frame. The Bowling Green native would retire the final three batters in the bottom inning, leaving the last Liberty batter looking as Gardner totaled six strikeouts in the rubber match.
TOP STORYLINES
- The Hilltoppers remain undefeated against Liberty, bringing the all-time series to 4-0.
- Cheyanne Sales picked up the pair of hits on the board for WKU. She picked up her eighth multi-hit game of the season.
- Right-hander Katie Gardner was lights-out in the circle, picking up six strikeouts to only allow two walks and a hit through a complete game.
- TJ Webster leads the Tops with a .418 batting average, while Morgan Sharpe owns 45 hits on the season.
- Katie Gardner is operating with a 1.87 ERA to lead the WKU pitching staff, producing 82 strikeouts at the plate. Rylan Smith is next in line with a 2.75 ERA and 83 strikeouts.
- WKU and Liberty are set for game two of the series, tomorrow, April 6. 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.
