Tops Complete Perfect 4-0 Weekend With Sweep of Detroit Mercy and WMU

Saturday, February 21

Bowling Green, Ky.

12:30 p.m. CT

Western Kentucky University

9-3

Detroit Mercy

2-6

Detroit Mercy

WKU

Photo by: Liam Downie/WKU Athletics

Tops Complete Perfect 4-0 Weekend With Sweep of Detroit Mercy and WMU

2/21/2026 8:49:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- WKU Softball added two more to the win column on Saturday after defeating Detroit Mercy in five innings and earning a thrilling comeback win over Western Michigan.
Against the Titans (2-7 overall), the Hilltoppers earned five total runs just off home runs while right hander Rylan Smith collected seven strikeouts and earned her first win of the season.
Later that afternoon, Anna Mauck tied the game against the Broncos (7-6 overall) with a solo shot in the fourth after a 10-pitch at-bat. The Tops eventually took the lead in the fifth and then widened their lead in sixth to take the game, 8-4.

WKU 9, DETROIT MERCY 1
HOW IT HAPPENED

Smith earned her first start of the 2026 season and quickly settled into the circle with two strikeouts and a foul out to end the first.

WKU supported their pitcher with offense in the bottom half as they scored three with back-to-back home runs from Annie White and Kennedy Stinson.

The junior pitcher held the Titans hitless through the fourth inning while WKU added an additional three runs across the home half of the third and fourth innings.

In the third, WKU collected another two runs off a two-run blast from Maci Masters, her fifth of the season.

Two singles and a walk loaded the bases for the Tops in the bottom of the fourth and a fielder's choice for Jenna Blanton brought in the sixth run of the night.

Up 6-0 going into the top of the fifth, the Titans grabbed their only run of the day with an RBI single.

WKU eventually walked the game off after scoring three off of two Detroit Mercy errors.

Smith earned the win with a total of seven strikeouts in five innings of work, allowing only two hits and one earned run.

WKU 8, WMU 4
The Hilltoppers made quick work of the first inning with two runs thanks to RBI singles from Annie White and Masters. Kendle White kept the momentum going in the second with an RBI ground out that scored Anna Mauck who reached earlier with a single to shortstop.

A series of defensive miscues for the Hilltoppers allowed the Broncos to score four and take the lead, 4-3, heading into the fourth.

Mauck capitalized on a 10-pitch at-bat and sent the 10th pitch over the right-center wall to level the score, 4-4.

The Tops continued to pour it on offensively with a run in the fifth off an Annie White RBI single and two runs in the sixth from two WMU errors.

Houge earned her fourth win of the season, throwing 5.0 innings and totaling four strikeouts and giving up only one hit.

QUOTABLE
"I thought we came out of the gate hot," said WKU Softball head coach Amy Tudor. "Today was colder, a little bit different weather conditions but I thought we rebounded really well. We had a lot of players step up and I thought we were solid in the circle all weekend. I'm really proud of our pitching performance and our hitting was just as equal. I'm really proud of their fight and how we did in the tournament."

NOTABLES

WKU improved to 10-3 overall, 7-2 against the Broncos, and 8-0 against the Titans.
The Hilltoppers extended their win streak to five games.
Rylan Smith earned both her first start and win of the 2026 season in the game against Detroit Mercy. In the game, she threw five complete innings, only allowing two hits and one run while collecting seven strikeouts.
Anna Mauck went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate including the game-tying home run against Western Michigan.
Erica Houge moves to 4-1 on the year after throwing five innings against Western Michigan. Against the Broncos, she only gave up one hit and fanned four.
WKU outscored opponents, 33-7 across both days of the Hilltopper Classic.
As a team, WKU hit .443 compared to their opponents' .145.
Annie White went 5-for-6 at the plate with three runs, six RBI, and one home run.
As a pitching staff, WKU posted a 1.75 ERA across 12.0 innings and allowed only six hits and three earned runs while accumulating 11 punch outs.

UP NEXT
With their final game on Sunday canceled, the Tops return to the WKU Softball Complex on Feb. 27 to host the Hilltopper Spring Fling featuring Illinois, Ball State, and IU Indy. First pitch on Friday, Feb. 27 against Illinois is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT.