Courtesy of WKU Athletics
LAS CRUCES, N.M. – WKU Softball earned their way to the CUSA Tournament Semifinal in a back-and-forth battle against [3] LA Tech, which resulted in a 10-6 victory for WKU Thursday afternoon at the NM State Softball Complex. With the win, the Tops are now slated to face host [4] NM State tomorrow at 1 p.m. CT.
Sophie Weber hit her first career multi-home run game with back-to-back shots in left field, as starter Katie Gardner recorded three punchouts from the circle and collected her 500th career strikeout.
Eight of nine Hilltopper batters picked up a hit at the plate to total 13 on the afternoon – the most from the Hilltopper offense since the series finale against NM State in March. Brylee Hage and Weber had perfect 3-for-3 outings, as Cheyanne Sales earned her sixth home run of the season in the bottom of the fifth.
“We did a really good job staying in the game. Credit to LA Tech, but it’s nice to be on top,” said head coach Amy Tudor. “We have to be ready in the circle, we have to get ahead against New Mexico State. We have great hitters too, so we are looking forward to that match up.”
WKU 10, LA TECH 6
The Bulldogs got going early, plating two in the top of the third frame before the Hilltoppers answered back in the bottom. Brylee Hage secured her first hit of the ballgame that was good for an RBI single before Sophie Weber found the left field wall for a three-run home run and take a 4-2 lead.
Into the fifth, LA Tech took the lead with a two-run RBI single and Hilltopper error and made it a one-run game. Weber struck back after a long at-bat with another homer into left field and the Tops once again took the lead in the bottom of the fifth, 6-5. TJ Webster added more insurance with a single up the middle, as Cheyanne Sales drove a ball deep into left for her sixth home run of the season and secured three more runs for the Tops.
LA Tech capped off scoring from a sacrifice-fly in the sixth, finalizing a 10-6 game, as right-hander Rylan Smith closed down the Hilltopper circle with three strikeouts in the final two innings.
Katie Gardner started for WKU, recording three strikeouts until the fifth inning before Smith came in for relief. Smith now moves to 12-6 in her freshman campaign. She struck out four and only gave up one earned run in three innings against the Bulldogs in the afternoon.
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