WKU fell to 26-24 overall and 15-10 at home with the one-run loss. Lipscomb improved to 32-15 overall with the victory.
After five scoreless half innings, WKU struck first in the bottom of the third after playing some small ball. Morgan McElroy led off the inning before Maddie Bowlds moved her into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Jordan Thomas followed with a single to right field to put runners on the corners before Brittany Vaughn scorched an RBI single to left field to plate McElroy. WKU would end up stranding the bases full in the frame.
Lipscomb responded its next trip to the plate, leading off the fourth with a solo home run before adding another tally to take the 2-1 lead.
Kelsey Aikey worked into the top of the fifth inning before being relieved by Shelby Nunn. The freshman hurler, Nunn, inherited a two-on, one-out situation and proceeded to strand both Lipscomb runners by inducing a popout before registering a strikeout to get the Red and White back to the plate.
The Bisons added to their lead in the top of the sixth with a three-run frame to open up a 5-1 advantage. WKU went on to respond with three runs of its own in the frame – all coming with two outs. Bowlds got things started with a triple to the right corner before Thomas sent a ball back up the middle for an RBI knock. Vaughn drew a walk before Rebekah Engelhardt sent a double to the left field wall to score Thomas and Kelsey McGuffin followed with an RBI single as well, scoring Vaughn to pull the Hilltoppers within 5-4.
In the top of the seventh, WKU retired the Bisons in order for the first and only time of the night before putting together a rally. Paige Carter going things going with a leadoff single before Kendall Smith followed with a single up the middle. McElroy followed with a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners into scoring position but the next two Hilltoppers would end up being retired.
Aikey took the decision, moving to 10-9 on the season while Nunn tossed the game's final 2.2 frames allowing three earned runs.
WKU outhit Lipscomb 11-10 on the game and was errorless in the field to the Bisons one mishap.
WKU will host FIU for Senior Weekend at the WKU Softball Complex. The Hilltoppers will honor their lone senior, Brittany Vaughn, prior to Saturday's doubleheader against C-USA's second place team. Festivities will begin at approximately 12:50 p.m. CT with the first pitch of the series slated for 1:05 p.m. CT.
TOPPER NOTES:
- WKU opened the game with its leadoff batter reaching base each of the first five innings. After a groundout in the top of the sixth, the Hilltoppers got back on track with a lead off base hit in the top of the seventh to improve WKU's mark on the game to 6-of-7.
- Kelsey Aikey put together a 4.1 inning performance that featured six strikeouts against just two earned runs. Aikey's five punch outs are her sixth showing this season with 5 or more.
- The Hilltoppers dropped a school-record seven sacrifice bunts on the game. The previous record was 6 on April 29, 2000 against FIU.
- Three Hilltoppers registered multiple hits in the midweek tilt including Jordan Thomas, Brittany Vaughn and Paige Carter. Thomas now owns 11 multi-hit games while Vaughn climbs to 10 on the season and 39 in her career. Carter is up to 13 multi-hit performances on the year and 17 on her career.
- WKU moved to 15-14 in the all-time series again Lipscomb with the loss. The Hilltoppers are now 6-7 in tilts on The Hill while Lipscomb has claimed the last six overall decisions.
How to Follow the Hilltoppers: For complete information on WKU Softball, follow the team on Twitter at @WKUSoftball, Instagram @WKU_Softball and Facebook /WKUSoftball.
