March 14, 2003
Bowling Green, Ky. - The Western Kentucky University softball team (9-10) opened up the 2003 Hilltopper Classic with a pair of wins, on the strength of two strong pitching performances today in Bowling Green. Junior Allison Silver (3-3) and Adrienne Lathrop (6-2) led the Hilltoppers to two wins on the tournament's first day, by allowing just one run over 13 innings.
Western poured it on late against Detroit, scoring seven runs in the final two innings, to cruise to an 8-0 victory. As an encore, the Hilltoppers picked up their fourth straight victory by knocking off Belmont, 4-1.
On Saturday, WKU will face Loyola at 10 a.m. (CST) and Valparaiso at 2 p.m., before bracket play begins on Sunday.
Western Kentucky 8, Detroit Mercy 0 (6)
Silver picked up her third win of the season by firing her first shutout of the year, a two-hit complete game against Detroit in Western's first action of The Hilltopper Classic. The WKU offense tied its season high by pounding out 11 hits in the game, led by a career high three hits from both sophomore Dana Rey and freshman Natasha Sevco. Rey was 3-3 at the plate with two RBI, while Sevco went 3-4 with a double and a career-high three RBI.
The Hilltoppers led just 1-0 through four innings, but tallied three runs in the fifth and four in the sixth. Sevco's double came in the sixth inning with bases loaded, scoring Rey, Silver and sophomore Shelly Floyd. Junior Riley Garcia went 0-3, snapping her 10-game hit streak. WKU's centerfielder was able to draw a walk, however, to make it 18 straight games in which she has reached base safely.
Western Kentucky 4, Belmont 1
The Bruins led 1-0 through four innings, but were unable to hold on as RBI-singles from Floyd in both the fifth and sixth innings gave Lathrop all the run support she would need. WKU's frosh pitcher improved to 6-2 on the year by striking out a career-high eight batters while walking none. Belmont mustered a run in the bottom of the second after LeAnna Crandall led off the inning with a double, but were unable to add any further damage as the Hilltoppers upped their mark to 9-10.
Garcia led WKU with three hits, the 13th three-hit game of her career, and extended her streak to 19 games. Western tallied 10 hits for the game, but struggled through the first four innings to manufacture runs. For the game, the Hilltoppers stranded 10 runners.
- WKU -
