Two home runs, a complete-game performance from sophomore right-hander Maddy Wood, and a diving, game-ending catch from junior outfielder Kaytlan Kemp gave Western Kentucky’s softball team the win and the split on Friday.

After dropping the first game of the day to Kentucky, 7-5, the Hilltoppers (11-5 overall) posted five runs on six hits, including the first collegiate home run for freshman outfielder Kennedy Stinson and the third on the season for sophomore utility Maci Masters to take down Tennessee Tech, 5-1.

The Tops were one strike away from their first ranked win since 2022, but came up short in the seventh inning as Kentucky mounted a three-run rally in the top of the seventh to steal the win.

Stinson got things going for the Hilltoppers’ offense in the bottom of the second with a sacrifice fly to deep center field for the first RBI of the game.

Kentucky (11-6 overall) answered WKU’s scoring efforts with back-to-back home runs in the fourth to take the lead, 3-1.

WKU began to chip away at Kentucky’s two-run lead as freshman Katie Murphy sent a solo shot over the center-field fence for a home run for the second straight game.

The Wildcats got another run back to make it 4-2 in the top of the sixth, but sophomore outfielder Kendle White answered with a two-RBI double for her eighth and ninth RBIs of the season.

Kentucky loaded the bases soon after White’s at-bat, and Gregor grabbed a bases-loaded walk to bring another home to give the Tops the 5-4 lead.

Down to their last out and last strike of the game, the Wildcats strung together two RBIs with a single and a double to win the game, 7-5.

In the nightcap against Tennessee Tech, Masters’ first pitch of her at-bat left the field quickly on Friday for the sophomore’s third home run of the season. Sophomore infielder Annie White had reached earlier with a single to the pitcher to allow Masters’ home run to score a total of two.

After a quiet third inning, Stinson also took the first pitch of her at-bat and sent it over left center for her first home run as a Hilltopper.

In her third at-bat of the game, Masters grounded out to the pitcher but freshman outfielder Macy Gregor was able to sneak across the plate and avoided the tag to increase the Hilltoppers’ lead to 4-0.

The Golden Eagles (6-8 overall) managed one in the top of the sixth as a runner on third stole home after a pickoff attempt by the Hilltoppers.

The bottom of the sixth proved to be eventful for the Hilltoppers as senior catcher Randi Drinnon registered a stand-up double with sophomore infielder Morgan Sharpe matching her hit to bring in one, improving the lead to 5-1.

Wood shut down the top half of the seventh inning to secure WKU’s first win of the Hilltopper Spring Fling.

White led the way offensively with three hits on the day. Three home runs in one day is the most for WKU so far this season.

WKU’s pitching staff combined for 10 strikeouts, led by a career-high five for Wood.

The Hilltoppers return on Saturday to take on Kentucky and Evansville. First pitch against Kentucky is scheduled for 12:30 p.m.