Western Kentucky split its two games with a 5-4 comeback win over Evansville and an 8-5 loss to Kentucky during Saturday’s second day of the Hilltopper Spring Fling at the WKU Softball Complex.

In the fourth walk-off win of the season, WKU (12-6 overall) took advantage of a series of Evansville (10-6 overall) miscues to win 5-4.

Against the Wildcats (13-7 overall), the Hilltoppers tied the game in the fourth, but Kentucky was able to score five runs across the fifth and sixth innings to win 8-5.

After a quiet first three innings in the first game, the Purple Aces got on the board with a double to left center in the top of the fourth.

The Hilltoppers answered with three runs of their own in the home half of the frame after two Aces errors, a passed ball, and a steal home by freshman outfielder Kennedy Stinson.

A two-run home run to left center gave Evansville an additional two runs in the top of the fifth and added another in the sixth to make it 4-3.

WKU answered in the bottom of the sixth with a sacrifice fly from sophomore infielder Morgan Sharpe to tie the game at 4-all.

In the bottom of the seventh, a bobbled grounder by Evansville’s shortstop allowed freshman outfielder Macy Gregor to score for the fifth and final run of the game.

In the nightcap, Kentucky quickly got on board in the first after three hits collected three runs, but WKU was able to answer in the bottom of the second.

Sophomore designated hitter Maci Masters fourth home run of the season was a two-run shot to dead center with Annie White reaching earlier on error to make the score 3-2.

A second home run for WKU came from White in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at three.

Kentucky added a total of five runs across the fifth and sixth innings to increase its lead to 8-3.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Hilltoppers mounted a comeback with two runs thanks to Sharpe with a RBI double and scoring herself after a wild pitch. The two runs from Sharpe were the only runs WKU could produce and lost to Kentucky, 8-5.

Saturday’s games marks the fourth-straight game day with at least one home run.

Sharpe collected a team-high three hits for WKU.

WKU’s pitching staff combined for 11 strikeouts, Rylan Smith was responsible for four of them.

The Hilltoppers will finish their 2025 tournament slate with a game against Tennessee Tech on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. at the WKU Softball Complex.