Head Coach Amy Tudor announced an eight-game slate for the fall season that features four home double-headers. All four opponents the Hilltoppers will face are non-Division I schools in the region.

WKU will begin the season Wednesday with a double-header against Volunteer State Community College.

After kicking off the fall season against Volunteer State, WKU will host Campbellsville University on Oct. 1. The Hilltoppers will then host Lindsey Wilson College on Oct. 18. The fall season will conclude with a double-header against Kentucky State University on Oct. 27. 

The doubleheaders against Volunteer State Community College, Lindsey Wilson College and Campbellsville University are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. CT. The final doubleheader against Kentucky State will begin at 12 p.m. CT.

WKU baseball is also preparing for a more abbreviated fall season that will feature three exhibition games.

Head Coach Marc Rardin and the Hilltoppers are coming off back-to-back successful seasons in which they won over 30 games each.

WKU will play three intriguing games in October in preparation for the 2025 season.

The schedule will begin with the Hilltoppers hosting Murray State on Oct. 6 at Nick Denes Field. Next, WKU will host Team Ontario on The Hill for a matchup on Oct. 8. 

Following the two home matchups, WKU will head to Nashville, Tennessee to face the 2024 National Champion Tennessee Volunteers on Oct. 25. The game will be played at First Horizon Park, home of the Milwaukee Brewers Triple-A affiliate Nashville Sounds.

Sports reporter Camden Bush can be reached at camden.bush770@topper.wku.edu

The loss marks the second time in the last three years the Hilltoppers have fallen in the C-USA championship game. WKU’s 9-0 loss in the 2022 conference title bout followed the Hilltoppers last C-USA championship victory in 2021. 

Fifth year pitcher Katie Gardner pitched up to her conference pitcher of the year title through four, leaving liberty scoreless through her first 12 outs. However, a shaky fifth and sixth inning saw Gardner allow four hits and three runs that took the game to extras. 

WKU led for most of the contest, taking a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth. The Flames caught fire in the sixth, however, as a pair of RBI singles knotted the contest, 3-3. 

Following five scoreless frames, Liberty scored the deciding run on a walk off double to left center in the ninth inning. 

WKU had five players named to the C-USA all-tournament team following the loss, including Gardner, fifth year infielders Taylor Sanders, Sophie Weber and TJ Webster along with freshman utility and pitcher Annie White.

Fifth year infielder Sophie Weber led an offensive charge against the Aggies. Weber tallied four RBI’s on a double and a homer in her three plate appearances. 

Fifth year pitcher Katie Gardner threw a five hit, two run complete game in the contest.

WKU started scoring in the first as fifth year infielder Taylor Sanders put three on the board with an early homerun. Weber knocked in three of her four RBI’s with a bases clearing double in the same frame to make it 6-0 after one. 

Scoring stalled for the Hilltoppers following the first as WKU only brought one more across the plate with a Weber homer in the fifth. However, seven runs was more than enough cushion for the Hilltoppers as Gardner only allowed two, giving WKU a 7-2 win. 

WKU looks to claim a C-USA title against the tournament’s top seed, Liberty, Saturday, May 11 at 1 pm CT.

LA Tech was first to score in the top of the third, but WKU quickly tied the game in the bottom of the inning.

Fifth year outfielder Brylee Hage singled to drive fifth year infielder Taylor Sanders in.

Afterwards, fifth year infielder Sophie Weber homered which also drove Hage and freshman utility and pitcher Annie White home to make the score 5-2 in favor of WKU.

In the bottom of the fifth, Weber homered again to drive Hage in for another run.

To continue the scoring in the inning, fifth year infielder TJ Webster singled and freshman infielder Becca Campbell scored on a throwing error.

Later, redshirt junior utility and catcher Cheyanne Sales homered which also drove Webster and senior utility Kelsey Schmidt home to put WKU up 10-5.

LA Tech posted a run in the sixth, but ultimately could not catch up to the Hilltoppers.

Fifth year pitcher Katie Gardner threw four innings for WKU with three hits and five runs.

Freshman pitcher Rylan Smith pitched three innings with two hits, one run.

WKU is set to face host, New Mexico State in the next round of the tournament Friday, May 10, following the Aggies 11-3 win over one seeded Liberty. 

Sports reporter Molly St. Clair can be reached at molly.st.clair185@topper.wku.edu.

The Hilltoppers now hold an overall season record of 31-19-1.

Game 1

In their first matchup, WKU took the win 5-3.

In the second, fifth year infielder Sophie Weber grounded to drive fifth year outfielder Brylee Hage in to score.

WKU put up two more runs in the second. The first came after fifth year infielder Taylor Sanders singled to drive fifth year infielder TJ Webster home.

Afterwards, Weber singled which drove Sanders in for the third run of the game.

In the fourth, Sanders singled to drive Webster in for another run.

After a UTEP run in the sixth, freshman infielder Morgan Sharpe hit a sacrifice fly to center field which sent sophomore utility Kaytlan Kemp in for WKU’s final run of the game.

Despite UTEP’s effort in the seventh, the Hilltoppers emerged victorious.

Fifth year pitcher Katie Gardner threw 6.2 innings with six hits, three runs and seven strikeouts.

Game 2

WKU secured the series win in the second game against UTEP winning 6-2.

WKU started scoring off with a bang. With the bases loaded, redshirt junior catcher and utility Cheyanne Sales homered for a grand slam. Sanders, Webster and freshman utility and pitcher Annie White ran home to put WKU up 4-0.

In the fifth, Sanders homered which also drove Webster in.

UTEP put up runs in the sixth and seventh, but could not recover from WKU’s early lead.

Smith pitched five innings for the Hilltoppers with two hits and four strikeouts.

Redshirt junior pitcher Kelsie Houchens threw for two innings with two hits, two runs and four strikeouts.

Game 3

WKU fell in the third game to UTEP 7-2. 

UTEP put up all seven runs by the end of the fifth. 

WKU posted its first run in the fifth with a single from Sales to send Sharpe home.

In the seventh, Hage popped to center field to drive Sanders in for WKU’s last run. 

Gardner threw 2.2 innings for WKU with five hits and five runs. 

Smith pitched for 3.1 innings. She threw four hits and two runs.

Houchens pitched one inning with one hit.

WKU will take on either UTEP or LA Tech in their first matchup of the CUSA Tournament on May 9 in Las Cruces, New Mexico at 3:30p.m. CST.

Sports reporter Molly St. Clair can be reached at molly.st.clair185@topper.wku.edu.

WKU has an overall record of 28-16-1.

Game one

WKU defeated MTSU 6-2 in the first matchup of the weekend.

The game was scoreless until the fifth inning when WKU put up four runs.

Fifth year infielder TJ Webster singled to drive senior utility Kelsey Schmidt home for the first Hilltopper run.

Fifth year infielder Taylor Sanders popped up to center field which sent Webster home.

Redshirt junior catcher and utility Cheyanne Sales homered to left field and sent Webster in for another run.

After a MTSU run in the top of the sixth, WKU responded with two runs.

Fifth year outfielder Brylee Hage singled up the middle which drove Schmidt home. To follow, Webster singled again to drive sophomore utility Kaytlan Kemp home for WKU’s sixth run.

MTSU grabbed another run in the seventh but were unable to fully respond to WKU’s lead.

Fifth year pitcher Katie Gardner pitched all seven innings with three hits, two runs and seven strikeouts.

Game two

The Hilltoppers won the second game of the weekend against MTSU 4-2.

WKU was first to score with a doble from Sales which drove Webster home.

After a MSTU run in the third, Sanders doubled to right center which sent Webster in for another WKU run in the fifth.

In the sixth, Hage singled to advance freshman infielder Morgan Sharpe home.

Later in the inning, Webster singled which sent Hage in for WKU’s fourth run.

Redshirt junior pitcher Kelsie Houchens threw for three innings with four hits, two runs and three strikeouts.

Freshman pitcher Rylan Smith pitched the remaining four innings with two hits and five strikeouts.

Game three

WKU secured the series win 3-0 on Sunday over MTSU.

In the second, the Hilltoppers put up all three runs in one play. Sanders doubled to right field which sent Webster, Hage and fifth year infielder Sophie Weber home.

MTSU did not respond which led to the third WKU win of the weekend.

Gardner pitched all seven innings with only two hits. She also threw five strikeouts.

The Hilltoppers will take on Jacksonville State University on April 26 in Jacksonville, Alabama.

Sports reporter Molly St. Clair can be reached at molly.st.clair185@topper.wku.edu.

This was the team’s third loss in a row. The Hilltoppers now have a record of 25-15-1.

WKU took the lead early. Freshman utility and pitcher Annie White singled to drive in fifth year senior Brylee Hage in.

To follow, fifth year infielder Sophie Weber walked which drove fifth year infielder TJ Webster in.

In the second, redshirt junior Cheyanne Sales singled up the middle to send Hage in for the third and last WKU run of the game.

The rest of the game belonged to UK. The Wildcats posted 12 runs and the Hilltoppers were unable to respond.

Fifth year pitcher Katie Gardner threw for three innings with four hits, five runs and two strikeouts. 

Freshman pitcher Rylan Smith pitched for one inning. She threw three hits, four runs and one strikeout.

Lastly, redshirt junior pitcher Kelsie Houchens walked away from her inning on the mound with three hits and three runs.

WKU Softball will compete against Middle Tennessee State University on April 19 at 6p.m. CST at the WKU Softball Complex.

Sports reporter Molly St. Clair can be reached at molly.st.clair185@topper.wku.edu.

The Hilltoppers now stand 25-15-1 overall. They are ranked second in Conference-USA.

Game 1

WKU defeated Ole Miss 3-0 in their first matchup of the weekend on Friday.

The Hilltoppers put up all of their runs in the top of the first.

Freshman utility and pitcher Annie White singled to drive fifth year infielder Taylor Sanders home.

On the following play, Redshirt junior catcher and utility Cheyanne Sales stole home to put WKU up 2-0.

Later, freshman infielder Morgan Sharpe singled to third base to drive White in for another run.

Ole Miss never responded to the Hilltoppers busy first inning.

Fifth year pitcher Katie Gardner pitched all seven innings with three hits, zero runs and four strikeouts.

Game 2

The Hilltoppers fell to Ole Miss 11-3, in the initial rematch on Saturday. 

WKU was first to score when Sanders homered in the first to put WKU ahead early.

After six runs from Ole Miss in the first and second innings, Sanders homered again in the fourth.

White followed Sanders’ lead with a third homer for the Hilltoppers to make the score 6-3.

WKU was unable to score again within the matchup as Ole Miss pulled further ahead with five more runs throughout the game.

Freshman pitcher Rylan Smith pitched two innings with five hits, six runs and three strikeouts. 

Redshirt junior pitcher Kelsie Houchens also spent some time on the mound. Houchens pitched 2.2 innings with three hits and two runs.

Sophomore pitcher Maddy Wood threw 0.1 innings for WKU with four hits and three runs.

Game 3

Ole Miss overwhelmed WKU, 12-3, on Sunday, taking the series win.

After a grand slam in the first from Ole Miss, Sanders doubled to drive fifth year infielder TJ Webster home to finally get WKU on the board in the third.

In the fourth, Sharpe tripled to send fifth year infielder Sophie Weber in for a run.

Sharpe was able to score on a later play in the fourth to make it 4-3, Ole Miss.

Ole Miss posted eight more runs, starting in the fourth inning. The Hilltoppers were unable to respond, ultimately leading to the second loss of the weekend.

Gardner pitched three innings. She allowed seven hits, seven runs and threw one strikeout.

Smith threw one inning with four hits and five runs.

WKU will host the University of Kentucky on April 17 at 6p.m. CST.

Sports reporter Molly St. Clair can be reached at molly.st.clair185@topper.wku.edu.

She was originally committed to the University of Tennessee at Martin. Fortunately for the Hilltoppers, the plates aligned for Gardner to find her way home to WKU.

But she never had to find WKU as Gardner is a hometown hero in her own right. From Bowling Green, Gardner attended Warren East High School and was the 2019 Kentucky Miss Softball.

“It [being from Bowling Green] definitely brings a lot of support to like all of our games,” Gardner said. “It’s just really cool to be able to play close to home because my parents can come to almost every single game, which they do come to a lot of our away games, too.”

In Gardner’s freshman year, she only pitched a total of 2.1 innings out of 30 games before Covid-19 interrupted the remainder of the 2020 season. 

“My freshman year I didn’t really play that much,” Gardner said. “And then COVID hit so we had only played like 25 games my freshman year anyway, but I feel like that definitely helped me a lot…And then winning the conference ended my sophomore year. [Former pitcher Kelsey] Aikey went down, so then I had to step into a different role that I hadn’t gotten to step into yet. So that was really fun to do.” 

Today, she is one of the Hilltoppers’ most trusted players, spending more time in the circle than any pitcher.

“Last year, we lost a couple of pitchers and then there was just three of us,” Gardner said. “So that was another different role that I had to do and then this year, being the top pitcher; just really encouraging the rest of our pitching staff. But it’s been really fun so far this year.”

As of April 11, the Bowling Green native has thrown 113.0 innings, 86 strikeouts and has a 2.17 ERA in the 2024 season. Additionally, she has helped lead the Hilltoppers to 14 wins.

In an April 5 game, Gardner pitched a near shutout against Liberty University when she only allowed one hit in seven innings.

When Gardener reflects on her progress over the course of five years on the Hill, she credits much of it to her team.

“I definitely think it reflects on our team because I can’t do everything by myself,” Gardner said. “I’m not going to get 21 strikeouts. So definitely, depending on my defense for a lot of those wins. And of course, just all of the process of going through fall and then coming back super early for spring training. I think it does reflect a lot on how hard everybody works.”

Aside from statistics, Gardner’s determination and dedication to the game also proved true in other ways. 

In Gardner’s junior year, she broke her non-pitching wrist during weight training with the team. To Gardner, the biggest problem wasn’t her wrist, it was figuring out how to still play. At the time, WKU was about to play Texas A&M, and she refused to be benched.

“But I still pitched and literally just held my arm up,” Gardner said. “They would roll the ball back at me.”

Gardner is earning her masters in speech-language pathology. Following graduation she plans to do a clinical fellowship, most likely outside of Bowling Green.

As graduation approaches, Gardner will step off the field of the WKU Softball Complex for the last time on May 5, following a matchup against the University of Texas at El Paso.

The Hilltoppers now hold a 24-13-1 overall record with a 10-5 conference record.

Game 1

WKU grabbed their only win of the weekend in their first meeting with Liberty on Friday, 1-0. 

Freshman infielder Morgan Sharpe flew out to right field which drove redshirt junior catcher and utility Cheyanne Sales home for the only run of the game.

Fifth year pitcher Katie Gardner threw all seven innings for the Hilltoppers in shutout fashion. Gardner only allowed one hit and threw six strikeouts overall.

Game 2

The Hilltoppers fell 9-1 in their second face off against Liberty which ended in four innings.

Despite the loss, WKU was the first on the board.

In the top of the second, fifth year infielder Sophie Weber doubled to allow Sharpe to run in. However, WKU was unable to keep the momentum going as they did not score the remainder of the game.

Freshman pitcher Rylan Smith threw 3.1 innings for the Hilltoppers. She allowed four hits, six runs and threw four strikeouts.

Redshirt junior pitcher Kelsie Houchens pitched 0.2 innings with four hits and three runs.

Game 3

WKU lost the last game of the series 7-5.

Sanders was first to score with a homer in the top of the first.

Freshman pitcher and utility player Annie White followed Sanders’ lead with a homer in the second.

In the third, White reached on an error to drive Sanders and fifth year infielder TJ Webster home to put WKU up 4-0.

After Liberty tied the game up in the fourth inning, White singled to center field which once again drove Sanders home in the fifth.

Despite WKU’s efforts, Liberty posted three more runs in the fifth. The Hilltoppers were unable to respond and ultimately picked up their 13th loss of the season.

Gardner pitched 4.1 innings with seven hits and six runs. She also threw four strikeouts. 

Smith threw 1.2 innings for the Hilltoppers with one strikeout.

WKU will next face the University of Mississippi April 12 at 5p.m. CST in Oxford, Mississippi.

Sports reporter Molly St. Clair can be reached at molly.st.clair185@topper.wku.edu.