Western Kentucky’s softball team split a pair of decisions at the Mercer University Softball Invitational on Friday with a 2-1 win over Army and a 12-9 loss to Mercer in Macon, Georgia.

In the game against the Black Knights (2-5 overall), stellar performances from both Maddy Wood and Rylan Smith kept Army to only two hits, while a defensive error and a single from Maci Masters scored the two runs.

The Tops (5-2 overall) got on scoreboard early thanks to a single from Kendle White and a Black Knights error to bring her home two batters later.

Army answered with an RBI double in the top of the third to score one and tie the game, 1-1, going into the fourth.

WKU’s game-winning run came in the bottom half of the frame after Kennedy Stinson reached on an error. A groundout from Morgan Sharpe moved Stinson to second and a single from Masters scored Stinson.

The rest of the game settled into a pitcher’s duel as the Hilltoppers came out on top thanks to a total of seven strikeouts between Wood and Smith.

Wood earned her second win of the season, while Smith earned her first save of the season. Wood finished the day with five strikeouts and only gave up two hits.

Despite WKU being up 3-0 going into the bottom of the third, Mercer (6-0 overall) scored a total of eight runs in that frame alone to help take the win.

Down 9-3 prior to the fourth, the Tops scored four total runs across the fourth and sixth innings to close the gap to two. Two sacrifice flies, a single from Anna Mauck, and a bases-loaded walk were responsible for the four runs.

But Mercer widened the gap once again, scoring three more runs in the bottom of the sixth.

WKU junior Annie White hit a two-run homer to left center in the top of the seventh.

WKU’s record against Army improves to 2-0 overall and 2-0 when playing at a neutral site. The Hilltoppers’ record against Mercer falls to 1-3 both all-time and when playing in Macon.

The Tops continue their time in the MUSB Invitational with two games on Saturday. First pitch against Iowa is set for 11:30 a.m. CT and 4:30 p.m. CT against Mercer.