March 1, 2003
Chattanooga, Tenn. - Freshman Natasha Sevco's late-inning heroics nearly pushed the Hilltoppers to victory against Chattanooga on Saturday, as the her solo shot in the top of the seventh sent the game into extra innings. But the Mocs tallied seven runs over the next three innings, capped off by a game-winning three-run homer from Bryn Favor, sending WKU off with an 8-6 defeat.
Junior Allison Silver was flawless for 6.1 innings, allowing no runs and just one hit it to the Mocs, while striking out five. But the Toppers' ace was unable to close out the game once it advanced past the ninth inning, having already pitched 5.0 innings in the previous game against Akron, and was pulled in favor of Sevco in the 10th. While Sevco had played the hero in the seventh inning, tying the game with a solo shot off the foul pole, she was unable to hold on to the lead.
Junior Riley Garcia opened the tie breaker with a single to push freshman Jennifer Ballance to third base. A sacrifice bunt from sophomore Renita Pennington loaded the bases for the Hilltoppers with no outs. WKU got on the board two batters later when senior Kristalyn Smith drew a walk, scoring Garcia. Junior Samantha Hansen followed with a two-RBI single, putting the Toppers ahead, 4-1. Western added a fifth run, compliments of an RBI single from sophomore Dana Rey, and appeared to have the game in control heading into the bottom of the eighth.
However, the Mocs answered right back with a four-run inning of their own to push the game even further into extra innings. A scoreless ninth inning by both teams, gave way to the 10th where Favor's three-run blast overshadowed an RBI from WKU's Smith in the top of the inning.
Freshman Adrienne Lathrop started the game on the mound, but lasted just .2 innings after walking three straight batters to load the bases. Silver came on in relief and got out of the inning with WKU trailing the Mocs 1-0 on four walks and no hits in the inning.
Western missed an opportunity in the top of the fourth, failing to plate the tying run after loading the bases with one out. UTC threatened in the bottom of the fifth as a double by Melissa Ramirez, following a walk by Favor, put runners on second and third with one out. The double was the Mocs first hit of the game. The Hilltoppers intentionally walked the next batter to load the bases, and the gamble paid off as Silver forced the next two batters to strike out and groundout, respectively.
The Hilltoppers close out their trip to Chattanooga with two games on Sunday. Western will take on Tennessee State at 10 a.m. (EST), followed immediately afterwards by a matchup with Marshall.
- WKU -
