WKU Softball split its first day of play at the Conference USA tournament in Newark, Delaware, with a 3-0 loss to Liberty and a 4-3 walk-off victory over Delaware on May 8.
The results keep WKU (38-13 overall) alive in the elimination bracket. Morgan Sharpe delivered the game-winning hit for the Hilltoppers in their second contest of the day, an infield single that scored the deciding run against Delaware.
Delaware took an early lead in the first inning with an RBI double, but WKU quickly responded as Jenna Blanton doubled and later scored on Sharpe’s team-leading 18th double of the season. Lauren Satterly added a triple to put WKU ahead, followed by Annie White’s sacrifice fly to extend their lead. The Blue Hens tied it up after capitalizing on a defensive miscue and an RBI single. Pitcher Erica Houge entered in relief during the fifth inning and struck out four batters through three innings to hold off Delaware’s offense until Sharpe’s decisive hit sealed victory for WKU.
Head coach Amy Tudor said, “We had some timely hitting in that last inning, and I thought that was huge, and then Morgan Sharpe got up and got that infield hit. It’s a bang-bang play, and fortunately for us, it turned out to be a win on our side.”
Thursday’s win marked WKU’s eighth walk-off victory this season. Sharpe is now one double shy of tying the program’s single-season individual record. Rylan Smith made her 14th start while Houge earned her 22nd win of the year—moving her into fifth place all-time for single-season wins at WKU. Blanton went two-for-three at bat against Delaware while both Smith and Houge combined for seven strikeouts.
Looking ahead, WKU will continue its run through the elimination bracket facing LA Tech next at Delaware Softball Diamond with first pitch scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Central Time.
