April 20, 2002
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Sara Alan?s' sixth-inning home run provided Western Kentucky University with its only hit of the contest Saturday, but it was enough to lead the Hilltoppers to a 3-2 Sun Belt Conference softball victory over Middle Tennessee in the first game of a doubleheader at WKU Softball Field.
Stayc Preator responded in game two with a seven-hit shutout, though, to give the Lady Raiders (19-24, 2-8 Sun Belt) a 2-0 win and the split. Western (29-16, 2-4 SBC) saw a 10-game home win streak snapped in the second contest.
The Hilltoppers won the opener despite being outhit, 10-1. WKU scored three times in its final at bat to comeback from a two-run deficit, beginning the rally when Jennifer Martinez hit Shelly Floyd and then issued a walk to Amy Tudor. Melissa Gomes broke up the shutout with a sacrifice fly to center field, then Alan?s hit her first home run of the year on a 1-2 pitch to give the Toppers a 3-2 lead - it also broke up Martinez' bid for the second no-hitter ever at WKU Softball Field.
The first game was a scoreless duel until the Lady Raiders pushed across a run in the top of the fifth inning. Megan Cherinka led off with a single and Kristina Hieb followed with a bunt single. Lisa Sherman loaded the bases with a single to right field before Western recorded the first out of the frame on a fielder's choice, nailing pinch-runner Jennifer Polsteen at the plate. Lindsay Azevedo popped out to second base, but is was enough to plate Hieb and give MTSU a 1-0 advantage.
Laura Brockman doubled the lead with a home run to left-center field with one out in the sixth for the Lady Raiders' other run.
Hieb was 3-for-4 to lead MTSU, with Erica Buhl adding a pair of hits.
Allison Silver (14-6) walked just one batter and struck out six to pick up the victory, her 13th complete game of the season. Martinez fell to 12-10 hitting Gomes for the Hilltoppers' only other baserunner prior to the sixth inning - she fanned four.
MT took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning of game two, with Steffi Silva scoring from second base after Sherman reached on an error in left field from Alan?s with two outs. Silva scored again in the fifth after leading off the inning with a single, coming home on a one-out double to right from Azevedo, as the Lady Raiders took a 2-0 lead.
Preator outdueled Rockie Castillo, striking out five without allowing a walk to improve to 6-9. Castillo also gave up seven hits, but the right-hander walked four with three strikeouts in falling to 7-8.
Azevedo, Hieb and Silva had two hits each for MTSU, while Alan?s went 2-for-3 for the Toppers. The junior extended her hitting streak to a season-high six games in the process.
The Hilltoppers and Lady Raiders will play another doubleheader at WKU Softball Field Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m. (CDT).
- WKU -
