Led by two home runs off the bat of freshman Adarian Gray, Western Kentucky’s softball team took down Middle Tennessee 3-0 Saturday in the squad’s 2017 Conference USA opener in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Gray has hit homers in her last three at-bats. The victory also marked head coach Amy Tudor’s 100th victory at the helm of the WKU program.

The Hilltoppers improved to 14-9 and won their third straight over the Blue Raiders.

The Hilltoppers got on the board in the top of the second innings on Gray’s two-run homer over the left-field fence. Prior to the long ball, Kelsey McGuffin reached on a double.

WKU extended its lead to 3-0 in the top of the fourth when Gray crushed another home run in her third consecutive at-bat dating back to Thursday night’s sixth-inning grand slam. Three consecutive home runs ties the third-best streak ever recorded in NCAA play.

“Pudge (Gray) is a gamer,” Tudor said in a news release. “I could not be more proud of this kid and how much he has worked on the little things in her swing.

“The kid is a game changer. Both an incredible and very proud moment for her while helping the team win.”

In Gray’s third and final plate appearance of the game, the Blue Raiders walked the freshman, keeping the home run streak alive.

Five different Hilltoppers recorded hits, with Gray leading the WKU with a 2-for-2 day. Kara Brewer, Tommi Stowers, Brittany Vaughn and McGuffin also had hits.

Getting the start in the circle for the conference-opener, WKU’s Kathryn Downing carried a two-hitter through 4.2 innings before MTSU registered its other two hits on the day. The victory improved the senior to 8-2 on the year and was the fifth complete-game shutout Downing has pitched in her career.

Games two and three of the conference-opening series will start at noon and 2 p.m. on Sunday.