April 18, 2002
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Allison Silver and Rockie Castillo allowed four hits each Thursday to lead Western Kentucky University to an 8-0, 5-0 non-conference softball doubleheader sweep of Belmont at WKU Softball Field.
It marked the second time this season that the Hilltoppers (28-15) have hurled two shutouts on the same day, and the first time it has occurred in a twinbill against the same opponent. And, WKU has won all 10 meetings with Belmont (13-34), the last eight in Bowling Green.
The Toppers have now won their last nine home contests.
After stranding two runners in the top of the first inning of the opener, the Hilltoppers batted around in the bottom half of the frame to take a 4-0 lead. Melissa Gomes and Sara Alan?s singled with one out to put runners on first and second. The Bruins recorded an out with a fielder's choice, but Kristalyn Smith singled home Gomes, with Jessie Richardson scoring after center fielder Christi Davis threw the ball to the backstop. Brandy Hawkins followed with a single to score two more after Silver drew a walk.
Richardson homered over the left-field wall in the fifth with two outs to extended the Hilltopper advantage, and WKU added three more runs in the sixth to end the contest due to the eight-run rule. Hawkins singled, moving to third after an out and a Bruin error. Gomes singled up the middle to make the score 6-0, then Alan?s doubled to the wall in center field to drive in two.
Four Hilltoppers had two hits apiece - Alan?s, Gomes, Hawkins and Richardson - as the team collected nine in the contest.
Silver (13-6) took advantage of the outburst, giving up a pair of walks with two strikeouts to earn her fifth shutout of the season. After the opening frame, the left-hander did not allow a runner into scoring position until pitching out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth.
Tara Allen (1-5) took the loss, giving up eight runs (five earned), walking four.
Castillo (7-7) struck out a career-high nine batters, issuing only one walk in the nightcap. She cruised through the early innings, retiring the first 11 batters she faced before LeAnna Crandall reached on an infield single in the fourth. The right-hander allowed one other hit until the Bruins' final at bat, when BU loaded the bases on two singles and a walk before she induced Amanda Jones to ground out to first base to end the contest.
WKU again took a 4-0 lead in game two, breaking open a scoreless tie with three hits and the aid of a Bruin error in the bottom of the third inning. Shelly Floyd doubled to open the frame and Riley Garcia drew a free pass. After a sacrifice bunt, Alan?s singled home a run and Richardson added a run-scoring bunt single. The Toppers doubled their advantage when shortstop Sarah Peeples couldn't handle a ground ball up the middle, allowing both runners to cross the plate.
Floyd also started the fourth inning with a single, eventually coming around to score when Gomes hit a sacrifice fly to center, giving WKU a 5-0 advantage.
It was the second straight game that Floyd posted two hits, and third multiple-hit game of her career.
Western is next in action this weekend, taking on Middle Tennessee in a pair of Sun Belt Conference doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday. Play begins each day a 1 p.m. (CDT).
- WKU -
