Eight Hilltoppers collected a hit in the finale, including two-for-four at the plate from Faith Hegh, Taylor Davis, and Sanders. Davis also stole two bases, bringing her season total to 15 and the dugout leader. From the bullpen, Gardner picked up eight K's as she never drew a walk in seven innings of work – most of any pitcher this season.
"All weekend, we were solid in the circle, good at the plate, good around the bases, and played with a lot of intensity and desire", said head coach Amy Tudor. "They have a really strong pitching staff. We prepared really hard for them and the girls went out and executed early."
WKU 9, NORTH TEXAS 2
WKU got ahead early with a 4-0 lead from the first inning. Taylor Sanders hit an 1-0 pitch into the second level of the parking garage in left field to get WKU up by three, sending Faith Hegh and Taylor Davis across the plate. Second baseman Kennedy Foote later came to the plate with a double into left-center field, good for an RBI as Jessica Bush headed home.
In the bottom of the third, the Hilltoppers gained one more as catcher Randi Drinnon advanced home on a North Texas error throwing down to second base as Kaytlan Kemp stole the bag.
The Mean Green fought back in the fourth. An RBI single and sacrifice-fly into deep right field plated two for North Texas as the Tops were working for the shutout.
WKU gained more in the fourth as Brylee Hage singled on the 1-2 pitch into left-center, sending Faith Hegh across the bag. Later in the frame, Sander shot home run No. 2 opposite-field for three RBIs and a 9-2 ballgame for the Hilltoppers.
In the circle, Katie Gardner got the go as she worked through her eighth complete game this season (second this series) as she struck out eight, gave no walks, and only gave up two runs on four hits to the Mean Green offense.
WKU host their first midweek of the season at the WKU Softball Complex against Belmont. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT.
TOP STORYLINES
- The Hilltoppers hold the upper hand in the all-time conference series, 31-20.
- Head coach Amy Tudor earned her career 500-win mark in the Tops 9-0 win over Evansville. She is 509 all-time, while 292 as WKU's head coach.
- The Hilltoppers took two of three games back in 2019 against the Mean Green in Bowling Green – the last series match up between the two opponents.
- On the stat sheet, Faith Hegh is leading the Tops with a .398 batting average, while also owning 35 hits along with Brylee Hage. Taylor Sanders leads with 39 RBIs and nine home runs and while Taylor Davis has 36 hits and stolen 15 bases.
- The Hilltoppers collectively hold 250 hits, 155 RBIs, a .321 batting average with 15 home runs.
- In the Conference USA Preseason Coaches Poll, the Hilltoppers were predicted to finish second in C-USA, while fifth-year outfielder Taylor Davis was named to the Preseason All-Conference team.
How to Follow Hilltopper Softball: For complete information on WKU Softball, follow the team on Twitter at @WKUSoftball, Instagram @WKU_Softball, and Facebook/WKUSoftball.
