Feb. 24, 2002
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Allison Silver and Rockie Castillo each pitched shutouts Sunday to lead Western Kentucky University to the Sonic Challenge championship, the first in-season tournament title away from home in the program's three year history.
Silver allowed four hits in a 3-0 defeat of Birmingham-Southern in the Hilltoppers' first game of the day, then Castillo threw a five-hitter to lead Western to a 1-0 victory over host Tennessee-Chattanooga in the final game of the event. The Toppers and Kentucky each finished 5-1 in the three-day tournament, with WKU claiming the championship thanks to its 6-5, come-from-behind victory over the Wildcats in the final game Saturday.
Silver, Castillo and Beth Enk were named to the all-tournament team.
It was the first shutout of Castillo's Western career, as she allowed five hits and three walks with four strikeouts. She worked around jams in the second, sixth and final innings when the Lady Mocs put at least a pair of runners on, ending the first two threats by getting the UTC batter to swing at strike three before inducing Amanda Woodall and Dana Reed into the final outs of the contest. UTC stranded eight runners in the game.
Castillo outpitched Awbrey Winckler, who gave up just a run on two hits in throwing her fifth complete game in seven starts. Winckler walked two and struck out four.
Western would give the sophomore right-hander all the support she would need in the bottom of the second. Jessie Richardson reached on a one-out double down the right-field line and scored when Shelly Floyd singled to center one out later. Melissa Gomes had the Toppers' other hit with two outs in the sixth.
Melissa Ramirez was 2-for-3 to lead UTC.
In the opener, Silver threw her second shutout of the tournament and third of the season, allowing just four hits while fanning three.
Riley Garcia led off the first game with a single to start a rally that gave WKU an early 1-0 lead. She moved to second when Gomes laid down a sacrifice bunt and then to third when Enk reached on an error by first baseman Leslie Roberts. Sara Alan?s then reached on a bunt as Garcia beat pitcher Ami Rodgers' throw to the plate.
Western added to its lead with two more runs in the fourth, beginning a one-out rally with Richardson's double. Kristalyn Smith and Silver followed with infield singles to load the bases before Dana Rey singled with two strikes down the right-field line to plate Richardson. Garcia walked one out later to bring home pinch-runner Rebecca Minnis and make the score 3-0.
Alan?s and Richardson had two hits each as the Toppers pounded out a season-high 10 in the contest.
WKU's first tournament championship came at the Hilltopper Classic last March.
The Hilltoppers will next take on Austin Peay Wednesday at WKU Softball Field in their home opener, with first pitch of the scheduled doubleheader set for 3 p.m. (CST).
- WKU -
