Western Kentucky freshman Tommi Stowers’ career day at the plate helped the Hilltoppers split the opening day of play Friday at the Courtyard Marriott Tournament hosted by Oklahoma at the OU Softball Complex in Norman, Okla.

Stowers went 5-for-6 at the plate on the day, including a 5-for-5 performance to tie the program record for single-game hits in WKU’s 9-4 victory over Evansville in the second game.

WKU improved to 10-6 on the split-decision day and will take on defending national champion, Oklahoma, in Saturday’s opening game, which is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. CST.

In Friday’s opener, WKU dropped an 8-0 decision to Northwestern State in five innings.

Kathryn Downing suffered her first loss of the season in the circle, moving to 6-1 in 2017. Both Kelsey Aikey and Cassidy Blackford also spent time in the circle in the contest. Blackford’s appearance was the redshirt freshman’s first of her career.

In the nightcap,WKU rallied for three runs in the top of the third inning to take a 3-2 lead.

WKU responded in the top of the third frame to take a 3-2 lead. Stowers had an RBI double, and two batters later Jordan Mauch delivered a two-run single.

The Hilltoppers added to their lead in the next inning with a four-run rally highlighted by another Stowers RBI double.

Evansville trimmed WKU’s advantage to three in the bottom of the sixth, but the Hilltoppers responded in the top of the seventh to take a 9-4 lead. Kara Brewer had an RBI single and Kelsey McGuffin stole home to increase the Hilltoppers’ lead.

Haylee Towers went the distance in the circle for WKU, improving to 2-4 on her debut season. The freshman notched a new career-high nine strikeouts in her fourth complete game on the year.