Softball drops series opener to WKU on Friday

Friday, April 19

Bowling Green, Ky.

6:00 PM CT

Middle Tennessee

19-28, 5-14

WKU

26-16-1, 11-5

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Middle Tennessee	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	2	3	1
Western Kentucky	0	0	0	0	4	2	X	6	7	3

Game Notes (PDF)

4/19/2024 8:21:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: @MTAthletics

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – Middle Tennessee softball (19-28, 5-14) dropped the series opener at Western Kentucky (26-16-1, 11-5) on Friday night 6-2.

Shelby Echols led off the game with a single and picked up her 52^nd hit of the season to lead CUSA.

Mary Martinez started in the circle for the Blue Raiders and picked up an early strikeout in the first inning to strand a Hilltopper runner and keep the game tied after one. Her ninth start of the season lasted four innings with two earned runs on just three hits.

Friday night's series opener started scoreless through four innings with just two hits total between both sides.

WKU took the lead after scoring four runs in the fifth inning. Cheyanne Sales delivered a two-run home run that extended the lead to four.

In the sixth inning, MTSU was able to answer back with its first run of the game. Shelby Sargent gave MTSU a leadoff baserunner and stole second for her fourth of the season. Amaya Harris would drive in Sargent on a RBI double. Harris's 14 doubles lead the team and moved her into a tie for the second most in Conference USA.

The Hilltoppers added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth after a pair of RBIS from the top of the lineup.

Lexi Medlock doubled in the seventh and came in to score on a pinch-hit RBI from Claire Czajklowski. The late game rally wouldn't be enough in the series opener on Friday night.

The four-run fifth inning by WKU was too much to overcome for MTSU and the Blue Raiders would fall 6-2.

Offensively, Echols, Harris and Medlock all contributed a hit in the series opener.

By the Numbers

· 3 – errors by the WKU defense on Friday night
· 52 – hits by Echols leads CUSA

Up Next

The Blue Raiders will be back at WKU Softball Complex tomorrow, April 20 for game two slated at 1 p.m. CT.

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