With the win, the Hilltoppers (30-20-1 overall) move on in the contenders' bracket to take on LA Tech on Friday.
HOW IT HAPPENED
WKU 3, Sam Houston 2
With the 2025 season on the line, WKU scored two in the bottom of the fourth to extend their season at least one more day.
Kennedy Stinson got things going for the Hilltoppers in the bottom of the second with her eighth home run of the day down the left field line.
In the top of the fourth, the Bearkats went on a round trip of their own as Morgan Holliday hung two on the board with a shot to left center and took the lead, 2-1.
The Hilltoppers responded in the home half of the fourth plating two of their own. Stinson got the inning started with a double to left center to which Maci Masters responded with a double of her own to score Stinson.
Tied 2-2, back-to-back walks from Kaytlan Kemp and Randi Drinnon loaded the bases. Kendle White hit a ball to deep right center for a sacrifice fly and the third run of the game for WKU.
Erica Houge took over in the circle in the fifth inning and only allowed one Bearkat baserunner through three innings to earn her conference-leading sixth save of the season.
WKU 1, JSU 2
Jax State (36-20) overall plated their two runs of the game with a two-run shot over the right field fence. Katie Murphy doubled to right center to put herself on the base paths and advanced to third thanks to a groundout from Morgan Sharpe.
Murphy scored the only run of the game for the Hilltoppers (30-20-1) on a wild pitch.
NOTABLES
- Rylan Smith earned her 15th win of the season, going four innings and giving up only three hits and two runs. She also recorded five strikeouts, including her 44th strikeout looking this season.
- Maci Masters and Kennedy Stinson split the offensive load on Thursday, finishing the day with two hits each.
- Erica Houge led the bullpen in strikeouts with seven across both games.
- Stinson's home run was the first for WKU since April 25 when Kendle White hit back-to-back shots against FIU.
NEXT UP
With the win, the Hilltoppers move on to the next round of the Conference USA Championship. WKU will take on LA Tech in Game 8 at the WKU Softball Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT.
