Western Kentucky scored a total of six runs in the sixth inning in the series-opening, 7-2 win over Jax State on Friday at the WKU Softball Complex.

With the win, the Hilltoppers (28-19-1 overall, 13-10-1 Conference USA) clinched a spot in the CUSA Championship Tournament and will get a chance to play at least one postseason game at home.

The Gamecocks (34-19 overall, 15-10 CUSA) opened the scoring in the top of the fourth with a home run to right center.

WKU’s Randi Drinnon singled to left field to put one aboard in the bottom of the fourth. Kendle White followed up Drinnon’s hit with a double of her own to score the senior for WKU’s first run of the night.

Rylan Smith earned her 23rd start of the season and settled in quickly, holding Jax State to four scoreless innings out of the five she appeared in. Across those five innings, she recorded six strikeouts, four of which were strikeouts looking. Smith increased her total to 42 strikeouts looking on the season, retaining her spot atop the conference standings in that category.

In the top of the sixth, Jax State was able to beat WKU’s shift defense and scored their second and final run of the night.

With the Hilltoppers’ top of the order up in the sixth, White opened the inning with a single to left field. Morgan Sharpe followed with a single, then Maci Masters hit a bases-clearing, two-RBI double to put WKU up, 3-2.

Up by two, Kennedy Stinson continued her success at the plate with a double to left center to score Masters. WKU’s lead increased to two and Charlotte Herron expanded that lead to three after creating confusion on the base paths and allowing Stinson to score in a first-and-third situation.

With Herron on second, both Kaytlan Kemp and Katie Murphy walked to load the bases. White reached for the fourth time in five total plate appearances with her second walk of the night, earning her second RBI with the bases-loaded walk.

In the very next pitch, Kemp scored on a wild pitch for the seventh and final run of the game.

Morgan Sharpe took the team lead in multi-hit games. Friday’s game was her 12th. Sharpe also led in hits with three, she’s now recorded at least one hit in the last eight games.

Erica Houge earned her ninth win of the season, throwing the final two innings of the night. Smith and Houge combined for an opposing batting average of .174. Jax State was hitting .313 coming into the weekend.

The Hilltoppers will look to take their third-straight series win on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the WKU Softball Complex.