The Hilltoppers now move to 7-7 on the young season.
WKU jumped out to an early 1-0 led against the Panthers after Kelsey McCauley reached on an error and then scored after a Rebecca Horesky single to center field.
The Toppers couldn’t hold the lead as they gave up a solo homer to Sam Card in the fourth and then Mary Hecker won the game with a home run in Pittsburgh’s half of the sixth.
Down 2-1 entering the seventh, WKU started the inning off right as Sara Williams reached on a walk and then Elizabeth Ferrell was hit by a pitch. McCauley then singled to load the bases, but a double play ended the Hilltoppers chances.
Offensively, McCauley and Lindsay Antone both collected two hits on the afternoon. Ryan Rogge (5-3) pitched the full seven innings, allowing two runs on six hits and tallied nine strikeouts.
In the first game of the day, Jennifer Kempf retired the first five Long Beach State batters; however, Danielle Linke then blasted a home run over the right center field wall to put the 49ers up 1-0.
LBSU (10-7) grabbed an insurance run after Ashley Levine scored on a Jessica Beaver single through the right side.
The Hilltoppers put runners in scoring position in three different innings, including a base runner to third in both the second and fifth inning, but could never manage to cross the plate.
Shannon Smith doubled to start the second frame and then came to third on a Antone sacrifice bunt. The Toppers couldn’t bring Smith home as the next two batters popped out.
McCauley reached base in the fifth on a fielder’s choice and advanced to third on an error, but the following batter grounded out to third to end that rally.
Kempf (2-4) went 4.1 innings, giving up five hits and two runs. Rogge came in relief, pitching 1.2 innings and allowing no hits or runs. Rachelle Boucher, Sam Cronk and Smith each collected a hit for the Toppers.
Brooke Turner (7-2) earned the victory after throwing a complete game shutout on three hits.
WKU will finish the classic on Sunday with a single game against California at 1:15 p.m. (CST).
