Tops down Aggies 6-2 to take series opener
Published 10:55 pm Thursday, April 17, 2025
- Western Kentucky sophomore Kendle White celebrates at first base after getting a hit during the Tops' 6-2 win against New Mexico State on Thursday at the WKU Softball Complex. (SAVANNAH PHILPOT / WKU Athletics)
An explosive first inning and a strong pitching performance from Rylan Smith propelled Western Kentucky past New Mexico State 6-2 to take the Conference USA softball series-opening win on Thursday at the WKU Softball Complex.
WKU (22-19 overall, 8-10 CUSA) earned five runs on five hits in the home half of the first and added the sixth run of the night on a home run by Kennedy Stinson in the fifth.
NMSU (22-20 overall, 9-10 CUSA) hit a two-run home run in the first, but Smith kept them off balance the rest of the night.
The Hilltoppers sent a total of nine hitters to the plate in the bottom of the first to score their five total runs.
Kendle White got things going with a single up the middle, followed up by Morgan Smith with a bunt single that pushed White to third.
With White on third and Sharpe on first, Stinson chopped a single to second base for the first RBI of the night while Sharpe took third.
Macy Gregor earned the start in right field and with the second pitch of her at-bat, scored two with a single down the right-field line.
In a first-and-third situation, Gregor attempted to steal second and proceeded to get into a run down, which Annie White took advantage of and scored the fourth run of the inning. Gregor successfully stole second on the play, and Randi Drinnon followed with a double to right field to score Gregor for the fifth and final run of the inning.
Smith settled into the circle as she retired 15 of the 28 batters she faced. In 109 pitches, Smith gave up two runs on five hits but struck out a total of four.
In the bottom of the fifth, Stinson barreled up the third pitch she saw to hit it dead center for her sixth home run of the season.
Thursday’s win against New Mexico State is the third series-opening win of the season for the Hilltoppers.
Stinson extended her hitting streak to five games and is hitting .625 through those five games.
With her four strikeouts, Smith crossed the 100-strikeout threshold for the season.
WKU continues its home conference series against NMSU on Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
