A three home run day by Western Kentucky’s softball team helped the squad to a Saturday doubleheader split against North Texas at the WKU Softball Complex.

Jordan Thomas got the Hilltopper offense started in both games with a leadoff home run while scoring four of the team’s five runs on the day. After suffering an 8-2 loss in the opening game, WKU responded and led the whole way in the nightcap en route to a 3-1 win behind a complete-game two-hitter from Shelby Nunn.

With the win in the day’s second game, WKU has matched its win total from the 2018 campaign with a 28-9 overall record. The squad improved to 11-3 in Conference USA action with the split – marking the team’s most wins in league play since the program put together a 16-4 record in 2015. North Texas moved to 26-13 and 11-3 in C-USA. 

In the opener, North Texas took advantage of a pair of first-inning walks and a double to take a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the frame, Thomas connected for a leadoff home run to cut the Hilltoppers’ deficit to 2-1. That homer marked the fifth of the season for the sophomore.

North Texas added two more runs in the top of the second. In the bottom of the sixth, WKU’s Paige Carter connected for a solo home run to get the Hilltoppers within 4-2.

In the top of the seventh, North Texas responded with four more runs.

Kennedy Sullivan took the loss – her first in league play – and dropped to 15-3 on the season and 5-1 in C-USA action.

Kendall Smith recorded a single and double in the outing for her eighth multi-hit game of the season. 

Nunn tossed a complete-game two-hitter in Game 2 as the Hilltoppers got another leadoff home run from Thomas for an early lead and never looked back. 

In the bottom of the third, the Hilltoppers added a run on a Carter RBI single. Sullivan delivered an RBI sac bunt in the fifth to score Thomas for the Hilltoppers’ third run. 

Thomas and Carter each tallied 2-for-3 performances with an RBI and stolen base. Thomas scored all three of WKU’s runs in the win.

Nunn allowed two hits, one run, one walk and struck out four.

WKU will look to claim its fourth series of the season Sunday in its rubber match against North Texas. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.