RUSTON, La. – WKU Softball moves to 20-10-1 on the season after falling 10-4 in the series finale at Louisiana Tech Sunday. Taylor Sanders picked up her 11th home run of the season, keeping her lead in Conference USA.
Four different Hilltoppers had multi-hit efforts at the plate, including TJ Webster who now owns 13 multi-hit games of the season and capitalized on a nine-game hitting streak.
LA TECH 10, WKU 4
The Tops got moving on the scoreboard first with Taylor Sanders’ 42nd career home run in the top of the first inning. Swinging on the first pitch, she sent the ball deep over the left-center field wall for her 11th on the year.
In the bottom half, LA Tech tied the ballgame with a sacrifice-fly into center field.
WKU regained the lead from a two-run double off the bat of Cheyanne Sales, scoring TJ Webster who singled and Taylor Sanders who drew a walk at the plate.
The Bulldogs fought back on the board, gaining the go-ahead off a three-run home run and took a 4-3 lead in the bottom of the third. LA Tech later added an extra insurance run in the fourth frame.
The Red and White battled and closed the gap within one. Annie White shot her seventh extra-base hit of the season, scoring Sanders off an RBI double in the fifth.
A combination of RBI doubles and RBI groundouts extended the lead for the Bulldogs through the fifth and sixth innings, as they made out the final score 10-4.
Katie Gardner started in the circle for the Tops, pitching through 2.2 innings and recording a strikeout. The other three members of the WKU pitching staff saw action in the circle with Kelsie Houchens closing things down and facing two batters in the sixth.
TOP STORYLINES
Louisiana Tech continues the all-time series lead over the Hilltoppers, 12-8.
TJ Webster is on a nine-game hitting streak and owns 13 multi-hit games of the season.
Taylor Sanders picked up her 42nd career home run, 11th of the season, leading CUSA.
As a whole, WKU is leading Conference USA with a .325 batting average and .976 fielding rate.
TJ Webster leads the Tops with a .465 batting average, while Morgan Sharpe owns 43 hits on the season. Both lead CUSA in their category.
Katie Gardner is operating with a 2.19 ERA to lead the WKU pitching staff, producing 64 strikeouts at the plate. Rylan Smith is next in line with a 2.64 ERA and 74 strikeouts.
WKU is back in action Thursday, when they take on Sam Houston for another Conference USA three-game series in Bowling Green. All games will be broadcast on ESPN+.
