Western Kentucky secured its first Conference USA series win on Saturday after splitting the doubleheader with Louisiana Tech at the WKU Softball Complex.

The Hilltoppers (17-15 overall, 4-7 CUSA) dropped the opener, 8-4, but took the nightcap from the Bulldogs (21-13 overall, 8-4 CUSA), 5-2, to earn the series win.

Thanks to Maci Masters’ 10th home run of the season, WKU scored in the bottom of the first inning after the two-run blast in Game 1.

After LA Tech scored in the top of the second, Kendle White brought in Katie Murphy – who had reached earlier in the inning with a double.

The Bulldogs, however, were able to tie the game at 3-all in top of the fourth with a two-run home run.

In the home half of the fourth, White hit her first home run of the season to left center to bring the Tops ahead, 4-3.

The score held for the next inning and a half until LA Tech hit a grand slam to take the lead at 7-4. The Bulldogs added another run in the top of the seventh to take the win.

Kennedy Stinson was the hero for the Hilltoppers in the second game of the doubleheader as her second home run of the season was a two-run shot to right center that also served as the go-ahead runs.

Masters continued her reign as WKU’s RBI leader with a single to right center that brought another two across to increase the lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the third.

While the Bulldogs had scored in the top of the first with a bases-loaded walk, their only other score of the game was a home run from Reagan Marchant.

With the score 4-2 going into the home half of the fourth, Kaytlan Kemp earned an RBI of her own after a groundout to second scored Stinson.

After the two-RBI single in the fourth of Game 2, Masters has registered at least one RBI in four straight games. She also leads the Hilltoppers in RBI with 30.

With appearances in both games, Rylan Smith has registered at least one strikeout in the past six games. Smith led in strikeouts with four, while all four pitchers made an appearance and combined for eight on the day.

Kemp led the Tops in the doubleheader at the plate, going three-for-five (.600).

WKU heads to Nashville on Tuesday for a midweek match up against Lipscomb. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.