Morgan Sharpe earned the walk-off win for WKU (38-13 overall) with an infield single to second base to survive elimination and advance to Friday.
WKU 4, DELAWARE 3
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Blue Hens (31-23 overall) got on the board early in the first inning with an RBI double to left center.
The Hilltoppers wasted no time answering back, however, as Jenna Blanton opened the frame with a double down the left field line.
Two batters later, Annie White pushed Blanton to third with a fly ball to center field, and Sharpe earned her first RBI of the day with her team-leading 18th double of the season.Â
Neither side scored in the second inning, but in the home half of the third, Blanton once again got things going for WKU as she singled through the right side and then stole second base to put a runner in scoring position.
Lauren Satterly capitalized on Blanton being in scoring position with a triple to left center to push WKU ahead, 2-1.
Annie White followed Satterly's triple with a sacrifice fly to deep left field to score Satterly and increase the Hilltoppers' lead to 3-1.
The Blue Hens tied the game in the top of the third after scoring two runs on a defensive miscue and an RBI single.
In the top of the fifth, Erica Houge took over in the circle and struck out four to keep Delaware at bay through the top of the seventh inning.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Anna Mauck singled to first base, and Katie Murphy pushed Mauck to second with a sacrifice bunt.Â
A fielder's choice in centerfield for Satterly moved Mauck to third and a walk for Annie White put a Hilltopper on every base.
With the winning run just 60 feet away, Sharpe singled to second base to score the fourth run of the night and secure the walk-off victory.
LIBERTY 3, WKU 0
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Hilltoppers could only muster two hits in the shutout against Liberty (28-27 overall). The Flames earned their three runs from three RBI singles.
QUOTABLE
"We had some timely hitting in that last inning, and I thought that was huge, and then Morgan Sharpe got up and got that infield hit," said WKU Softball head coach Amy Tudor. "It's a bang-bang play, and fortunately for us, it turned out to be a win on our side."
NOTABLES
- Thursday's win against Delaware was the eighth walk-off win of the season for the Hilltoppers.
- With her double against Delaware, Morgan Sharpe is one double shy of tying the single-season individual program record.
- Rylan Smith earned her 14th start of the season while Erica Houge picked up her 22nd win. Houge moves to fifth all-time in single season wins.
- Jenna Blanton, Anna Mauck, and Morgan Sharpe all secured two hits in the game against Delaware. Sharpe led in RBI with two while Blanton went 2-for-3 at the plate.
- Both Rylan Smith and Erica Houge combined for seven strikeouts against the Blue Hens. Houge led with four.
- Erica Houge was hitless in her three total innings of work.
UP NEXT
WKU moves on in the elimination bracket to take on LA Tech at the Delaware Softball Diamond. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
