A single from Maci Masters and another from Randi Drinnon gave the Hilltoppers (21-16 overall, 7-9 CUSA) their two runs on the day while MTSU (20-22 overall, 8-9 CUSA) could only muster one run through the seven innings.
HOW IT HAPPENED
WKU 2, MTSU 1
Kendle White opened the mid-afternoon contest in dramatic fashion as WKU's leadoff hitter doubled down the left field line to put herself in scoring position.
Charlotte Herron followed up with a ground out to third base but was productive overall with White moving another 60 feet to third.
Masters added another tally to her RBI season total as she singled through the left side to bring White home and give the Hilltoppers the 1-0 advantage going into the home half of the frame.
The Blue Raiders' only run of the day came from a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the first.
Prior to issuing the bases-loaded walk, Smith had earned the first two outs of the inning with back-to-back strikeouts. She earned her third of the day in the same frame to close out the first.
Across the second and third innings, Smith only saw a total of seven batters as she fanned four and forced two fly outs.
MTSU's first and only hit of the day came in the fifth inning. Most notable, however, was Smith's 10 strikeouts through 5.1 innings of work.
The penultimate inning of the day was the closest MTSU came to scoring since the first inning with Smith facing a bases-loaded situation with only one out. That out of course, was another Smith strikeout, her tenth of the game and her 200th career strikeout as a Hilltopper.
With one out and bases loaded, Smith worked her magic and produced a pop up in foul territory and fielded a ball herself to collect the final two outs of the inning and work herself out of the jam.
The Blue Raiders had their first through third batters up, including freshman standout Jana Want up. But Smith wasted no time striking out both former Hilltopper Addy Edgmon and Jana Want to close out the game and post a new single-game career-high 12 strikeouts.
NOTABLES
- Of her 12 strikeouts, Rylan Smith struck out three looking and nine swinging.
- Maci Masters extended her reached base streak to 12 with her single in the first inning. She also earned her 38th RBI on the season.
- Rylan Smith brought her conference-leading batters struck out looking total to 39.
- Rylan Smith totaled double-digit strikeouts for the second time this season. The first was on February 24 against Bradley with 11.
- By limiting MTSU to one hit, Rylan Smith snapped their 23-game home run streak.
NEXT UP
With the series split 1-1, the series win will be decided with the final game on Sunday, April 13. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. CT.
