Western Kentucky’s softball team finished the weekend a perfect 5-0 on Sunday with a 10-2 win over Alabama State in the Cardinal Clash in Troy, Alabama.

“Proud of the team’s resilience and focus which started this week at practice,” WKU coach Amy Tudor said in a news release. “We showed a tough side this weekend along with lots of growth. It was a great way to close out the weekend with another win.”

Freshman utility player Macy Gregor hit the walk-off single for the Hilltoppers (6-4 overall) en route to their second run-rule in in as many days.

In the circle, WKU freshman right-hander Erica Houge earned her second start of the season and her third win so far after a four-inning performance with three hits and only one earned run allowed in the victory.

The Hilltoppers scored in every inning but the first on Sunday, posting their second 10-run game of the weekend. In the first frame, Houge settled into the circle quickly on Sunday as she sat down the Hornets (0-8 overall) in order thanks to two fly balls in foul territory and a strikeout, her first of the weekend.

The freshman continued her dominance in the circle as she once again only let three Hornets bat in the second frame. Despite walking the first batter, the WKU defense stepped up big time as sophomore shortstop Morgan Sharpe produced a double play after taking a grounder to second base and throwing the runner out at first. Houge followed up the play with her second strikeout of the game.

The bottom half of the second is when the Hilltoppers’ offense came alive as freshman infielder Katie Murphy and redshirt junior outfielder Jenna Blanton singled for two RBIs, while sophomore outfielder Kendle White and Sharpe posted two more RBIs with a sacrifice bunt and a groundout to the pitcher.

Alabama State finally got through nine batters in the top of the third, but no more than nine as Houge registered her third strikeout and produced two more ground outs.

In the home half of the third frame, Blanton singled up the middle to score another two as freshman infielder Charlotte Herron reached earlier after a hit by pitch while senior catcher Randi Drinnon reached on a throwing error by the third baseman.

The Hornets eventually got their first run of the day in the top of the fourth with a single through the left side, but Houge answered with back-to-back strikeouts to prevent any further runs.

WKU responded with three more runs to bring the total to 9-1 by the end of the fourth. A double from Gregor and a walk from sophomore designated hitter Maci Masters set the Tops up to score again and Drinnon answered with a double down the left-field line to score.

ASU scored another in the top of the fifth to try and prevent the run rule, but a walk-off single from Gregor was all the Tops needed to cruise to a 10-2 win.

Sunday’s game against Alabama State was the third game of the weekend with 10 hits. Blanton led the Hilltoppers’ offense with three hits and three RBIs.

Due to inclement weather in Bowling Green, WKU has rescheduled the Hilltopper Classic to Feb. 23-24 with Gardner-Webb and Bradley.

On Sunday, Feb., 23, Bradley will face Gardner-Webb at 10 a.m., then WKU will take on Gardner-Webb at 12:30 p.m. and Bradley at 3 p.m. All games will be at the WKU Softball Complex.

Play continues Monday, Feb. 24, with Gardner-Webb facing Bradley at 10 a.m., followed by WKU vs. Bradley at 12:30 p.m. and then the Hilltoppers taking on Gardner-Webb at 3 p.m.