Western Kentucky’s softball season came to an end with a 7-1 loss to Middle Tennessee in the Conference USA tournament quarterfinals Thursday night in Ruston, La.
The Tops managed only two hits, while WKU pitchers Katie Gardner and Kelsie Houchens combined for seven strikeouts in a ballgame that ended just after midnight.
At the plate, only Faith Hegh and Kelsey Schmidt tallies singles against MTSU’s Gretchen Mead.
The lone run for the Hilltoppers was a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch off the forearm of Taylor Davis, sending Kelsey Schmidt across home plate to set the score at 7-1.
Giving up no more runs in the rest of the contest, Houchens came in for relief in the middle of the second, pitching a stellar back half of the ballgame with five strikeouts and a walk.
Wrapping her senior season, Gardner got the loss and closes 2023 at 15-16 as she lead C-USA in strikeouts this year. She went 2 1/3 innings, giving up six runs off of four hits with two strikeouts. Houchens carried the rest of the work in the circle, giving up one run and six hits to the Middle Tennessee offense.
Capping a 30-24 record this year, the Hilltoppers graduate two fifth-year seniors, Taylor Davis and Faith Hegh, who played their last year of eligibility.
Source : Bgdailynews
