Western Kentucky’s softball team extended its season-opening win streak to seven consecutive years with a five-inning, run-rule victory over Missouri State.

WKU coach Amy Tudor moved to a perfect 15-0 in season-openers with the 8-0 win over the Bears to open the Sand Dollar Classic in Gulf Shores, Ala. Game 2 saw No. 17 Auburn return the favor with an 8-0, five-inning victory over the Hilltoppers.  

In her WKU debut, Kennedy Sullivan dealt a two-hit, five-inning shutout for her first career victory against Missouri State. The freshman registered 11 strikeouts in the complete-game decision. Sullivan is the first freshman pitcher since at least 2008 to record double-digit strikeouts in their WKU debut.

WKU scored five runs in the first inning. Rebekah Engelhardt drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in the opening run before Kendall Smith reached on an error, moving all the way to third base while clearing the bases for a 4-0 Hilltopper advantage. During the following at bat, Smith scored on a wild pitch to push the lead to 5-0.

Two innings later, Engelhardt launched WKU’s first home run of the season to straight-away center, pushing the Hilltoppers’ lead to 6-0.

In the top of the fifth, Engelhardt beat out a bunt single and advanced to second base on a throwing error. Two batters later, Taylor Davis connected for an RBI pinch-hit single while advancing into scoring position on the throw. Jordan Vorbrink followed with a base hit to score Davis for the 8-0 Hilltopper lead.

The Hilltoppers’ second game of the day pitted them against No. 17 Auburn. The Tigers jumped on the board early with an unearned run before tacking on three more in the third and another pair in the fourth. Auburn finished the contest with a two-RBI base hit for the five-inning, run-rule victory.

On Saturday, WKU will take on Florida A&M at 11 a.m. followed by a game with Tennessee State at 2 p.m. from the Gulf Shores Sportsplex.