After defeating Tennessee State and Northern Kentucky on the tournament's first day, WKU scored a 7-6 win over Austin Peay on Sunday at noon, then posted a 10-run win over the Lady Govs in the title game.
The Hilltoppers return to action next weekend when they head to Lexington, Ky. to play in the Battle Against Breast Cancer Tournament, hosted by Kentucky.
Western Kentucky 11, Austin Peay 1
The Hilltoppers entered the seventh inning with just three hits in the game, but led 5-1 thanks to free passes from the APSU pitching staff and defensive miscues. Western came to life in the final inning, dashing any hopes of a Lady Gov comeback by racking up six runs in the top of the seventh. WKU received RBI base knocks from sophomore Bailey Rolfs and junior Rebecca Minnis, not to mention an RBI double from sophomore Jennifer Ballance.
Silver allowed just one unearned run in the bottom of the third inning, but dodged a bullet in that frame, as Ballance prevented any further damage by throwing out a runner at the plate from left field. APSU managed just four hits off Silver, who walked one and struck out four in the win.
Senior Riley Garcia led the Hilltoppers with two hits and three runs scored, while junior Shelly Floyd came away with three RBI.
Western Kentucky 7, Austin Peay 6
WKU used a four-run first inning to take control early on in its first meeting of the day with the Lady Govs. RBI doubles from Floyd and Silver did most of the damage, as Western's two-through-five hitters all crossed the plate. The Hilltoppers lead was short lived, however, as junior pitcher Ashley Schwartz ran into trouble in the third inning. After retiring the first six batters in order, Schwartz allowed two hits and a walk before APSU's Brianna Venable came through with a bases-clearing grand slam to tie the game at 4-all.
With the score tied, senior Jessie Richardson sparked the Hilltoppers with a two-run bomb to left center, scoring pinch runner Minnis, to put Western on top 6-4. Sophomore Natasha Sevco came on in relief of Schwartz and pitched two scoreless innings of relief, before surrendering a run in the sixth and the tying run in the top of the seventh, off an RBI double from Venable. Schwartz reentered the game in the top of the seventh and recorded the final two outs, stranding a runner at second.
Having seen their two-run lead evaporate, the Hilltoppers rallied in the bottom of the seventh as Floyd opened the inning with a leadoff walk then stole second. Junior Dana Rey advanced Floyd to third, who scored off a groundout on the next at bat when she beat the second baseman's throw home, giving WKU a 7-6 win.
Schwartz took the win, while APSU's Sarah Longmire was credited with the loss. Richardson and Silver led the team with two RBI a piece, while Floyd paced the Toppers with two hits.
