“It was nice to come back in the second game with such authority, and I thought that offensively we did a great job – probably the best we’ve played all season,” said head coach Rachel Lawson.
In the day’s first contest, Adrienne Lathrop allowed two walks and a single to FIU (22-24 overall, 5-3 SBC) in the first inning which left the bases loaded for Kim Rodriguez, who lined an RBI-single to right field. Deomni Murray scored, and Tracey Deleon was sent home from second base on the play but was gunned down at the plate by right fielder Jennifer Brooks.
FIU extended its lead to 4-0 with a three-run fourth inning. A lead- off double by Samantha Card was followed by another double from Ashley Falk, scoring Card. Desiree Fink reached first on a Hilltopper throwing error, then both she and Falk scored on Murray’s base- clearing triple. Deleon got on first with a fielder’s choice and Lathrop walked Jennifer Powell to load the bases. With one out Lathrop retired the next two batters, catching Tabitha Embry and Rodriguez looking at strike three.
Singles by Bailey Rolfs and Sam Cronk put two on for WKU and Shelby Smith drew a two-out walk to load the bases in the fifth. But Rebecca Horesky grounded out into a fielder’s choice to end the frame and the Hilltopper scoring threat.
Falk added a solo homer in the fifth for the Golden Panthers, pushing their lead to 5-0.
WKU (24-22 overall, 4-4 SBC) rallied in the seventh when Cronk recorded her second home run of the season, plating Becky Bishop. A Brooks single with one out was followed by Smith's two-run homer over the center-field fence, cutting the deficit to 5-4.
Relief pitcher Kerri Houck entered the game and retired the next two batters to earn her second save.
Cronk, Rolfs, and Smith all had two hits, with Cronk and Smith each chipping in two RBI. Falk was a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBI and scored twice for FIU.
Lathrop (14-10) suffered the loss after going 4.0 innings and allowing three earned runs. Jennifer Kempf punched in 3.0 innings of relief and surrendered one run while striking out four. The win went to Sarah Belander (9-10).
WKU carried its offensive momentum into game two, putting up two runs it the bottom of the first. Rolfs singled and Brooks reached on a fielder’s choice, and they both advanced a bag on a double steal. Smith drew a walk to load the bases before Horesky doubled to right to score one and Amanda Ford-Fetiz singled to plate another, making the score 2-0.
Rolfs sent her ninth home run of the season out of the park in the second, giving the Hilltoppers a 3-0 lead. WKU scored again in the third when Horesky, who doubled to right-center and moved to third on a wild pitch, scored on Ford-Feitz’s single.
Falk homered on Ryan Rogge’s first pitch of the fifth frame to give FIU its only run of the game.
WKU’s three-run sixth inning was capped off with a two-RBI double up the middle by Rolfs. Bishop, Sam Young and Renikka Toliver each tallied hits in the frame and helped push the score to 7-1 in favor of the Hilltoppers.
Three of the Hilltoppers’ 10 hits came from Rolfs, who also had three RBI.
Rogge was credited with the win - her second in as many outings - after she went 7.0 innings and gave up one run on four hits. Penny Eastman took the loss, going 3.0 innings and allowing seven hits and four earned runs.
“Our defense was nearly flawless in the second game and I’m proud of the way Ryan (Rogge) came out and performed for us,” Lawson continued. “This was one of the first times this season we’ve put all three components of the game together for the win.”
The Hilltoppers and Golden Panthers meet again Sunday at noon (CDT) in the final contest of their three-game series.
