BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Softball will travel to Charlotte, North Carolina this weekend to kick off the 2022 conference slate against Charlotte. The Hilltoppers and 49ers will play a three game set Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. WKU enters with a 16-3 record while Charlotte boasts an 18-4 record and is ranked as high as 24th in the nation.
This will mark the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th meeting between WKU and Charlotte with the Hilltoppers holding a 14-7 advantage. WKU has won the last two games with the most recent being a 3-2 win on May 14th, 2021 in the Conference USA Tournament. The last time the Hilltoppers took down a ranked opponent was March 24, 2021 in an instant classic with a 2-1 9 inning walk off win over No. 7 Kentucky.
Charlotte is one of seven teams the Hilltoppers compete against this season ranked in the top 100 in the first NCAA RPI. Charlotte currently sits at eight and is one of four C-USA teams ranked in the top 100 WKU will face this season. The Hilltoppers currently sit at 34 in the RPI with their three losses all coming at the hands of teams in the top 30.
Last weekend, WKU headed south and participated in the Ole Miss Classic. The Hilltoppers went 3-2 with wins over Samford (2) and Saint Louis. Both losses came at the hands of Ole Miss.
Most recently for the 49ers, the squad visited No. 13 Duke for a midweek matchup. The Blue Devils would claim a 9-1, five-inning decision to end Charlotte’s five-game win streak.
A live stream will be available for all three games. Friday and Saturday will air on ESPN+ while the finale will be available on CUSA.tv. Live stats will be available the entire weekend as well.
GAMES 20-22
WKU (16-3) at Charlotte (18-4) – March 11-13, 2022
Sue M. Daughtridge Stadium | Charlotte, N.C.
Friday – 3 p.m. CT | Stats | ESPN+
Saturday – 12 p.m. CT | Stats | ESPN+
Sunday – 11 a.m. CT | Stats | C-USA TV
TOP STORYLINES
- WKU has taken on the 49ers 21 times in program history and currently have a 14-7 advantage in the series with the most recent game in favor of WKU in a 3-2 on May 14th, 2021 in route to the C-USA Tournament title.
- Charlotte will be the third team WKU has faced this season that is inside the top 30 on the NCAA RPI rankings. The other two opponents being SEC foes Texas A&M and Ole Miss.
- Friday and Saturday’s games will both be available on ESPN+. Sunday’s contest will be streamed on CUSA TV.
- Last weekend the Hilltoppers traveled to Oxford, Miss. and participated in the Ole Miss Classic. WKU went 3-2 on the weekend improving the overall record to 16-3.
- Last Friday WKU secured a 4-0 win over Samford for their 12th-straight win which set a new program record..
- Head coach Amy Tudor has been at the helm for every matchup with Charlotte dating back to 2015. She has won 7 of the last 10 meetings with the 49ers. After last weekend’s results Tudor is now 467-367-2 in her career and has led the Hilltoppers to match their best 19-game start in program history at 16-3. The 2004 squad open the season 17-3 before picking up a fourth loss on the year.
- In the Conference USA Preseason Coaches Poll, the Hilltoppers were predicted to finish third in C-USA, while Maddie Bowlds, Taylor Davis and Shelby Nunn were named to the Preseason All-Conference team. Charlotte and Marshall were the only two other teams to land three players on the Preseason All-Conference team.
- Shelby Nunn was named WKU’s second-ever Preseason Pitcher of the Year, which is the first in the Conference USA era. Adrienne Lathrop was the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year ahead of the 2008 campaign. Nunn and the Hilltoppers will face off against C-USA Preseason Player of the Year, Bailey Vannoy and the 49ers this weekend.
How to Follow Hilltopper Softball: For complete information on WKU Softball, follow the team on Twitter at @WKUSoftball, Instagram @WKU_Softball and Facebook /WKUSoftball.
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