March 5, 2003
Bowling Green, Ky. - The Western Kentucky University softball team split a doubleheader today at the WKU Softball Field, winning their home opener 2-1 over Tennessee-Martin in 8 innings, before falling 5-4 in the second installment. The Hilltoppers return to action this weekend when they host WKU's Big Red Blast (March 8-9), the first of two tournaments Western will host this season.
Western Kentucky 2, Tennesee-Martin 1 (8 innings)
Junior Samantha Hansen came up with her second game-winning hit of the short season, singling in the bottom of the eighth innning to drive in pinch runner Rebecca Minnis and give the Hilltoppers a 2-1 win. Hansen, who had the game-winning home run against Tennessee Tech, was 2-2 at the plate to help give freshman Adrienne Lathrop her fourth win of the season.
Lathrop (4-1) pitched a complete game, surrendering just five hits while striking out five and walking two. Sophomore Dana Rey kept the Hilltoppers alive in regulation, homering in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game at 1-all. Rey joined Hansen and sophomore Renita Pennington with a team-high two hits in the game.
The Skyhawks jumped ahead 1-0, in the top of the third, after stringing together four-consecutive singles. Kristin Runyan put Tennessee-Martin on the board when her single scored pinch runner Megan Dempsey. Facing bases loaded with just one out, WKU escaped the jam with a strikeout from Lathrop and pickoff at third by Hansen.
Sophomore Shelly Floyd was unable to pick up a base hit in the win, snapping her 10-game hit streak.
Tennessee-Martin 5, Western Kentucky 3
The Hilltoppers led 2-0 through the first three innings, but the wheels fell off in the top of the fourth. Junior pitcher Allison Silver took a line drive off the leg, and it was all down hill from there for WKU. The Skyhawks tacked on two runs in the third and fourth innings, giving them enough to edge past Western in the second game, 5-3. Floyd tried to rally the Hilltoppers with her fourth home run of the season, a solo shot in the bottom of the fifth, but a comeback was not in the cards.
The Toppers took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when Riley Garcia scored on a bunt single from senior Kristalyn Smith. The Skyhawks evened things up in the top of the fourth, using three base hits to plate two runs. Kristin Runyan put UTM on the board with an RBI double, scoring Nicole Davis. Angela Baize scored on the next play to tie the game at 2-all.
Floyd rebounded from her first hitless game since the season opener against Southern Illinois, by leading WKU with two hits and two RBI.
- WKU -
