WKU Softball earned its fifth Conference USA series win of the season on Apr. 17, sweeping a doubleheader against UTEP at home with scores of 9-0 and 7-1.
The Hilltoppers, now holding a 32-10 overall record and standing at 14-6 in Conference USA, continued their strong performance at home, improving to 22-1. The team combined for three home runs in the first game and saw Maci Masters deliver a grand slam in the second. Pitcher Erica Houge allowed only two hits in Game One, while Rylan Smith recorded ten strikeouts during Game Two.
In the opening game, Kendle White started with her fourth leadoff home run of the season. Annie White contributed both offensively and defensively throughout both games, finishing Friday’s action going four-for-six with three runs batted in (RBI). WKU’s offense totaled sixteen runs on fifteen hits across both contests. In Game Two, Masters hit her third first-inning grand slam of the year.
Head coach Amy Tudor said, “I thought we did a great job on all three parts of the game today. We threw it well, we fielded it well, and obviously we hit the ball a long ways. I’m really proud of how we came out and I’m really proud that all of these fans came out to support us. So it was fun to play today.” Tudor also said, “We’re getting production all over the lineup, and I thought Erica and Rylan held it down well in the circle, so that’s been great. We’ve also had some good defensive plays, and I think fans come for the strikeouts and long balls, and we provided that today.”
Notable performances included Smith’s second double-digit strikeout game this season—she previously struck out eleven batters during her no-hitter against MTSU—and Annie White extending her RBI total to forty-four to lead both WKU and Conference USA.
The Hilltoppers will conclude their three-game series against UTEP on Sunday; first pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.
