April 13, 2003
Murfreesboro, Tenn. - The Western Kentucky University softball team (20-22, 1-3 Sun Belt Conference) dropped their opening series in conference play after losing both games of a doubleheader against Middle Tennessee (20-15, 3-5 SBC) today. MT's Stayc Preator (13-6) picked up all three of the Lady Raiders' wins in the series, including both of today's games.
The Hilltoppers nearly pulled out the win in game two, but let a 4-2 lead slip away in the sixth inning to see their record fall to 3-10 in one-run games. Sophomore Shelly Floyd drove in all four of WKU's runs in the losing effort to increase her season total to 37, thus breaking the single-season mark formerly held by Sara Alanis (35 RBI in 2000).
Western returns to action on Tuesday when they travel to Richmond, Ky. to play a doubleheader with Eastern Kentucky.
Middle Tennessee 10, Western Kentucky 2 (Game 1)
Freshman starter Adrienne Lathrop (10-6) lasted just .2 innings as Middle Tennessee racked up five base hits and plated five runs in the first inning to take a commanding 5-0 lead. Freshman Natasha Sevco came on in relief and ended the inning by forcing Kristina Hieb to pop up.
The Hilltoppers cut the deficit to four runs by capitalizing off a few MT miscues to plate two runs. Junior Riley Garcia scored off an error by shortstop Cortney Mitchell, while sophomore Renita Pennington scored off a wild pitch from starter Stayc Preator.
The Lady Raiders tacked on four more runs in the bottom of the fourth to put the game out of reach and bring it to an end after five innings. Preator picked up her second win against WKU after allowing four hits and one earned run. The Lady Raiders had six different players record a multi-hit game, while Leah Grothause led the team with three RBI. Cortney Mitchell hit her 19th and 20th doubles on the season to tie the MT school record and increase her SBC lead.
Middle Tennessee 5, Western Kentucky 4 (Game 2, 8 innings)
MT started off seven of the game's eight innings with a leadoff hit (seven singles and a home run) en route to their 20th win of the year. The Lady Raiders tallied 13 hits in the game, second most by a WKU opponent this season, and dropped junior Allison Silver to 10-11 on the season, though the junior allowed just two earned runs.
The Lady Raiders took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, compliments of Dani DeCamino who opened the inning with a solo shot, her third home run of the season. Silver hit the next two batters to put two on with no outs, but recorded three straight outs, including an out at the plate off an assist from senior Kristalyn Smith to prevent any further damage.
WKU took the lead in the top of the third as Floyd hit a two-run double to put Western on top, 2-1. Garcia started things off with a two-out single and moved to second when Pennington followed with a base knock of her own. Floyd followed with a double to push across both runners. The two RBI gave Floyd 35 for the season, tying Alanis' single-season record. Middle starting pitcher Valerie Swanson gave way to Preator, who retired sophomore Dana Rey to end the threat.
The Lady Raiders evened things up in the bottom of the fourth when Lori Grothause scored off a fielder's choice by Kip Phillips. The 2-2 scored didn't last long, as Floyd picked up her 36th and 37th RBI in the top of the fifth to give her 37 on the year to break the school record. Senior Brandy Hawkins and Garcia reached base on an error and a single, respectively, and scored when Floyd hit a double down the first base line.
Middle tied things up in the bottom of the sixth, scoring two unearned runs off an error by Hawkins. MT's Phillips came up to the plate with two on and two outs and sent a grounder down to Hawkins, which found its way past WKU's first baseman, allowing Grothause and pinch runner Michelle Wilkes to score the tying runs.
The Lady Raiders threatened in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with one out on two base hits and an intentional walk to DeCamino, but Silver retired the next two batters on a strike out and a pop up to end the inning. Western wasn't as lucky in the bottom of the eighth, as Mitchell hit an RBI single with the bases loaded to give Middle the 5-4 win. Pennington stole her 20th base of the season in the top of the first, while Garcia set a new career high with four base hits.
- WKU -
