April 2, 2003
Bowling Green, Ky. - The Western Kentucky University softball team entered Wednesday's matchup against Evansville with a 1-5 record in doubleheaders, but used some strong pitching and big hits from the sophomore duo of Shelly Floyd and Dana Rey to sweep the two-game set.
Floyd returned to the WKU lineup for the first time in two weeks, having sat out since March 16 with a broken bone in her throwing hand, and came up with big hits in each of WKU's wins. In the Hilltoppers 3-2 win in game one, Floyd hit a game-tying RBI single in the bottom of the eighth. As an encore, Floyd belted a two-run homer in Western's second game, giving her seven on the year to break WKU's single-season mark of six home runs.
Rey went 3-6, all doubles, over the course of the two games while driving in four runs to help WKU raise back above .500 on the year. At 18-16, the Hilltoppers are winners of three straight as they head into a two-game set with Louisville this Sunday, April 6.
Western Kentucky 3, Evansville 2 (Game 1, 8 innings)
Junior Riley Garcia came through with a bases-loaded RBI single in the bottom of the ninth to score freshman Bailey Rolfs and make winners out of the Hilltoppers in the first game of their doubleheader with Evansville. Western entered the bottom of the eighth trailing 2-1, but used RBI singles from Floyd and Garcia to pull out a 3-2 victory and even their record at 17-17.
The two teams were engaged in a pitcher's duel for the first five innings, failing to tally a run until Evansville jumped ahead in the top of the sixth. Western was able to recover and pull out the extra-innings win to send starting pitcher Adrienne Lathrop to 9-4 on the year. Lathrop went all eight innings, allowing just two unearned runs while scattering five base hits.
Western threatened in the bottom of the first, loading the bases as two runners reached on errors by UE's third baseman, Trish Wetzel, while senior Kristalyn Smith advanced after being hit by a pitch. The Purple Aces escaped the jam, though, as pitcher Katie Markle forced Rey to fly out and then struck out Rolfs.
After going hitless for the first four innings, the Hilltoppers finally tallied a base knock as junior Samantha Hansen opened the fifth with a single. WKU put runners on third and second after a sacrifice by senior Brandy Hawkins and a single by Garcia, but Evansville again escaped without allowing a run as Markle forced a ground out and a fly out from sophomore Renita Pennington and Smith, respectively.
The Purple Aces finally broke the scoreless game as Kellie Pebler scored off a single from Trish Wetzel and an ensuing error by Rolfs. The Hilltoppers got even in the bottom half after junior Allison Silver got things going with a lead-off double and then scored off an RBI double from Rey. Rolfs followed with a walk to put two Toppers on base with no outs, but relief pitcher Casey Clutch retired the next three batters in order on a ground out and two strikeouts.
WKU nearly ended the game in regulation as Pennington followed a fly out by Garcia with a single and then advanced to second on a wild pitch from Clutch. But the Hilltoppers were unable to advance her any farther, sending the game into extra innings.
Evansville opened the eighth inning with a sacrifice bunt to advance Joni Woods, their lead runner, to third. Lathrop got a second out by striking out UE's Jamie Davison for the third time on the day, but was unable to escape the inning as Woods scored off a bunt single from Pebler, after WKU's Hansen fielded the bunt in front of the plate and threw to first instead of contending Woods, who was coming from third.
Western opened the bottom half of the eighth on a good note, when Evansville fielded a sacrifice bunt from Rolfs and went to third, but was unable to put the tag on Rey, giving WKU two on with no outs. Floyd followed with a single to even the game at 2-all. Garcia came up with the game winner three batters later, singling to score Rolfs.
Western Kentucky 5, Evansville 2 (Game 2)
Rey did the damage early on and Floyd provided the knockout punch as WKU picked up a 5-2 win in the second installment to help Silver improve to 9-8 on the season. Floyd became WKU's single-season home run leader by blasting her seventh homer of the year in the third inning.
Rey made the Purple Aces' Woods pay in the first and third inning, using a pair of doubles to drive in three runs and help WKU take control of the ball game. Rey's first-inning double scored Pennington, who singled, and Smith, who reached after being hit by a pitch. Smith singled in the third inning and later scored her second run of the game off Rey's third double of the day. Up 3-2, Floyd pushed the WKU's advantage even higher, following Rey with a two-run homer.
Silver allowed just three base hits while walking none in earning her ninth victory of the year. WKU's co-captain made one mistake though, surrendering a two-run homer to UE's Davison in the top of the third.
- WKU -
