Tops Play Host to UTEP in Final CUSA Series

UTEP Series // May 3-5 // WKU Softball Complex
Game 49: Middle Tennessee	Friday, May 3 \| 6 p.m. CT \| Varsity Network \| Livestats
Game 50: Middle Tennessee	Saturday, May 4 \| 1 p.m. CT \| Varsity Network \| Livestats
Game 51: Middle Tennessee	Sunday, May 5 \| 12 p.m. CT \| Varsity Network \| Livestats
Promotions	FRIDAY: GIVEAWAY Katie Gardner Trading Card to the first 100 Fans! Brylee Hage Trading Card to the first 100 Fans! SATURDAY: Derby Day GIVEAWAY Sophie Weber Trading Card to the first 100 Fans! Taylor Sanders Trading Card to the first 100 Fans! Softball Bingo Saturdays Play bingo every Saturday with up to 3 people winning a prize! SUNDAY: Senior Day Come out and support the Seniors! GIVEAWAY TJ Webster Trading Card to the first 100 Fans! The Sounds of Sunday Listen to a variety of themed music every Sunday!
Game Notes	WKU \| UTEP
Series History	WKU leads, 9-3; Full History
Social Media	@WKUSoftball \| @WKU Softball \| Facebook \| YouTube \| Tik Tok

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The WKU Softball team is back for their final weekend at the WKU Softball Complex to UTEP, Friday-Sunday. First pitch for the series opener is set for Friday, May at 6 p.m. CT.

WKU is coming off of their last road trip of the season down in Jacksonville, Ala. for a three-game series with Jax State. The Tops fell 1-2 in the series, but picked up the lone win in extra innings in the series finale, Sunday. Katie Gardner was monumental as she recorded her eighth complete game shutout, going 11.0 innings without a run and striking out six at the plate. Brylee Hage and Sophie Weber went 3-for-5 at the plate as Weber picked up her first RBI in 11 games and Randi Drinnon recorded her fourth multi-RBI game of the season.

UTEP has seen significant growth in their game as they earned a berth in the CUSA Tournament for the first time in five years with a 10-11 record in the league. The Miners are hitting .289 at the plate, led by junior Ajia Richard with a .392 average and 51 hits on the season. Freshman Faith Aragon is leading the Miner Pitching Staff with a 12-8 record and a 3.44 ERA from the circle.

All games this weekend will be on the Varsity Network radio. Reily Chestnut will bring the play-by-play call.

Fans can enter and purchase tickets on the north end of the stadium, down the sidewalk via the Creason lot in between left field and PS3. Tickets are just $5 for adults and $3 for children. Tickets are also on sale by calling 1-800-5-BIGRED, or visiting the ticket office in-person inside Diddle Arena. Students receive free admission by showing their student ID.

Gates will open for fans one hour before the first game.

GAMES 49-51
Friday
Listen: Varisty Network | Livestats
May 3, 2024 | 6 p.m. CT

Saturday
Listen: Varisty Network | Livestats
May 4, 2024 | 1 p.m. CT

Sunday
Listen: Varisty Network | Livestats
May 5, 2024 | 12 p.m. CT

TOP STORYLINES

UTEP travels back to Bowling Green for the first time since 2022. The Tops lead the all-time series with the Miners, 9-3.
The Hilltoppers' all-time home runs leader, Taylor Sanders, is currently tied with 15 home runs for the single-season record and is two RBIs away from the career RBI record.
After the UTEP series, the Tops conclude their regular season slate and will head to Las Cruces, N.M. for the 2024 Conference USA Softball Tournament. It is the fifth consecutive tournament the Hilltoppers have qualified for.
On the stat sheet, fifth-year TJ Webster is leading the tops with a .404 batting average off of 55 hits and senior Taylor Sanders holds 49 RBIs with a .789 slugging percentage, while leading WKU with 15 home runs. Fifth-year Katie Gardner boasts a 2.40 ERA from the Hilltopper pitching staff in 32 appearances.
As a team, the Hilltoppers are posting a .300 batting average, while scoring 220 runs off of 580 hits. The Hilltopper pitching staff is operating with a 3.35 ERA and earning 408 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.

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Players Mentioned

Randi Drinnon