Blue Raiders drop game one at WKU

Friday, May 6

Bowling Green, KY

6:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

19-32, 6-16

WKU

33-11, 15-7

Middle Tennessee

WKU

5/6/2022 10:04:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Jonathan Caudle, MT Athletic Communications

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Middle Tennessee Softball (19-32, 6-16 C-USA) fell in its series opener against the WKU Hilltoppers (33-11, 15-7 C-USA) 6-1 on Friday at WKU Softball Field.

The Hilltoppers opened up the game with a leadoff walk from Brylee Hage. Hage stole second, before advancing to third off a groundout. WKU then pushed Hage across off an RBI-groundout to take an opening 1-0 lead.

WKU extended its lead to two in the second. Bailey Curry knocked a leadoff single, before Randi Drinnon followed her up with their second single of the inning to put two on with no one out. A fielder's choice put the lead runner down for the Blue Raiders, but a two-out single down the left-field line from TJ Webster plated Drinnon from second to put the Hilltoppers ahead 2-0.

The Hilltoppers extended their lead in the fifth. Hage knocked a leadoff single and stole second to open up the inning. Taylor Davis connected on a single through the right side to move Hage to third, and then stole second to put Hilltoppers on second and third. The bases became loaded after a walk, before Maddie Bowlds and Curry connected on back-to-back singles to push across three and extend WKU's lead to five, 5-0. The Hilltoppers pushed across one more in the inning on an RBI double from Drinnon to take a 6-0 lead after five.

After a pair of groundouts to open the sixth, junior Kelci Hill knocked the Blue Raiders second double of the contest off the left-center wall to get the Blue Raiders going. Sophomore Amaya Harris then connected on a single to the pitcher, before a WKU throwing error from Nunn allowed Hill to score and bring the Blue Raiders back within five.

Senior Lani Rodriguez and sophomore Shelby Sargent connected on back-to-back singles in the seventh to lead off the inning, but the rally just wasn't enough as WKU closed out the game and the Blue Raiders eventually fell 6-1.

Hill led the Blue Raiders in the contest, batting 1-for-2, and scoring Middle Tennessee's sole run. Junior Kaylee Richetto, Harris, Rodriguez, and Sargent also each tallied a hit, going 1-for-3 in the contest.

Sophomore Danielle Taitt opened up the game in the circle for the Blue Raiders, going 4.0 innings and allowing three earned runs on six hits with a strikeout. Senior Gretchen Mead pitched 0.1 innings, allowing three earned runs on three hits, and freshman Claire Woods closed out the contest for the Blue Raiders. She threw 1.2 innings and didn't allow a single hit, while only walking one Hilltopper.

Up Next
Middle Tennessee will take on WKU for game two tomorrow at 1 p.m. CT at WKU Softball Complex.

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