Kempf (6-1) earned the win after pitching 7.0 innings, striking out six, and walking two Bison batters. Shelby Smith had two hits and scored a run to pace WKU (15-13). Natasha Sevco and Renikka Toliver also plated runs.
“Jennifer threw a great game, and Natasha came off the bench and executed well for us,” said head coach Rachel Lawson. “She [Natasha] really hasn’t been in that position this season and she came up big today.”
In game two, WKU scored its first run in the bottom of the third when Bailey Rolfs’ grounder to third was thrown over the first baseman’s head, scoring Renikka Toliver all the way from first.
After Smith singled to begin the bottom of the fourth, Sevco’s hit-and-run moved Smith to second to put two Hilltoppers on base. Both runners would advance a bag on Amanda Ford-Feitz’s fielder’s choice to third, and Bishop drove in Smith one batter later. Sevco scored on Kit Dunbar’s grounder to shortstop, making the score 3-0 in WKU’s favor.
All of Lipscomb’s (9-15) five runs in game one came off home runs — a three-run shot by Heather Collins, and a two-run homer by Julia Davidson. WKU scored one run in the bottom of the sixth when Rolfs’s single brought home Allie Miles, who doubled to lead off the frame. Adrienne Lathrop (10-6) suffered the loss after allowing eight hits and five earned runs in the outing. Sara Meek limited WKU to three hits and one run in 7.0 innings.
WKU returns to action March 21 for a doubleheader at Austin Peay scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. (CST).
