Western Kentucky’s softball team beat host Kennesaw State 8-1 Friday to win the opening game of their Conference USA series in Kennesaw, Georgia.

The Hilltoppers (18-15 overall, 4-7 CUSA) put together a performance that included eight runs on seven hits, five strikeouts and one home run.

Friday’s game quickly turned into a pitching duel as neither Kennesaw State (9-28 overall, 0-13 CUSA) or WKU scored a run for the first three innings.

Through those three innings, WKU starter Rylan Smith recorded her first strikeout in the second, while a double play by Kendle White prevented any Owls from scoring despite having the bases loaded.

In the top of the fourth, an Owl error allowed Charlotte Herron to score after she had reached with a double and was sent to third on a popout in foul territory.

WKU’s Randi Drinnon saw three pitches before turning on the fourth and sending it over the left-field wall for her second straight game with a home run.

Smith’s best inning came in the fourth as she only needed three batters to get out of the inning, tallying three straight strikeouts.

With the Owls without a run through four, the Tops opened the fifth with a single from Morgan Sharpe and a walk from Maci Masters to put two on.

With runners on second and third thanks to a wild pitch, Annie White earned a sacrifice fly with a flyout to right field that scored Sharpe.

After Masters settled on third, Herron walked to put the Owls in a first-and-third situation. With Kennedy Stinson at the plate, Herron stole second. The KSU catcher’s errant throw allowed both Masters to score and Herron to be safe at second.

The bottom of the fifth was the only time the Owls scored, with Hannah Harvey homering over the left-field fence.

By the top of the sixth, the Hilltoppers were up 4-1 thanks to two back-to-back two-run innings.

WKU scored another two runs in the top of the seventh. White opened the inning with a single which Herron followed up with a double. Drinnon loaded the bases for the Hilltoppers with a walk.

Put in as a pinch hitter, Macy Gregor singled through the left side to bring home White, and Kaytlan Kemp followed up as she reached on error and allowed Herron to score.

Earning her conference-best fourth save, Erica Houge finished the day with a strikeout, a foul out and a groundout.

Rylan Smith earned her 10th win of the season with her 4 1/3-inning, four-strikeout performance.

The Tops will finish their three-game series against the Owls with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. CT.