BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The WKU softball concluded their 2009 fall season on October 22 by defeating Tennessee State in two games. During the fall season, the Lady Toppers met six opponents and finished with a 7-0 overall record. The University of Kentucky Tournament was cancelled due to inclement weather.
"This fall was very important because we have so many new players," head coach Tyra Perry said. "It was especially important for our young pitchers to face different types of batters and to perform in game situations. I thought we did well as a team. Everyone played hard, which resulted in our 7-0 finish. We still have a lot of work to do but I am pleased with our overall effort. This team has what it takes to be a contender in the Sun Belt Conference, if we stay focused and continue to work together as a unit."
To open up the fall season, the Lady Toppers battled Volunteer State Community College in a doubleheader. In game one, the Lady Toppers defeated the Lady Pioneers 3-0 after junior Brittney Perry, junior Sara Williams and senior Ashley Contreras all scored runs. Then in game two, the Lady Toppers dominated Volunteer State posting ten runs on 13 hits and won the game 10-1. In the game, senior Kelsey McCauley hit two homeruns while sophomore Amanda Walden also posted a homerun. Against Volunteer State, the Lady Topper pitching staff of freshmen Kim Wagner and Mallorie Sulaski and sophomore transfer, Dana Nathanson, gave up just one run and five hits while striking out six.
Up next for the Lady Toppers was Lindsey Wilson. The Lady Toppers defeated Lindsey Wilson on October 8 scoring two runs off eight hits. WKU's first run in the game came from Reed who scored in the third inning after hitting a single and stealing two bases before being driven in by Perry who also recorded a single in the game. Then in the fifth inning, senior Jamie Hennis recorded a single and scored following another single by Reed and a RBI by Perry.
After defeating Lindsey Wilson, the Lady Toppers hosted Campbellsville in Bowling Green during the Lady Topper Fall Classic II. In the game, WKU scored four runs and recorded six hits. Freshman Ciara Garcia scored the Lady Toppers' first run after posting a single in the first inning. Then in the fifth inning, the Lady Toppers added three runs off Perry and senior Hennis' singles. On the mound, Wagner pitched six innings for the Lady Toppers giving up zero runs and zero hits. Katie Pfost also saw action on the mound relieving Wagner in the sixth inning.
Also in Bowling Green during the Lady Topper Fall Classic II, the Lady Toppers battled the University of Alabama-Huntsville. In the game, the Lady Toppers defeated the Lady Chargers 4-2. Perry, senior Shannon Smith, senior Rachelle Boucher and Contreras all scored runs while Contreras, Boucher and Reed all recorded RBIs while Hennis posted a sacrifice bunt. Pitching for the Lady Toppers in the contest was Sulaski, who went five innings and gave up just two runs and four hits, and Nathanson who came in during the fifth inning and gave up two hits and zero runs.
Finally, in the last games of the fall season against Tennessee State, the Lady Toppers outscored the Tigers 10-5 in the two games. In game one, Perry scored the Lady Toppers' first run in the first inning before Perry, Garcia, McCauley, Williams and Boucher all scored in the sixth inning. During the game, the Lady Toppers racked up three hits including McCauley's triple in the sixth inning. Sulaski pitched all seven innings in game one giving up just three runs off seven hits.
In the last game of the season, WKU scored all three of their runs in the seventh inning after Smith recorded a walk-off double to start the inning. Then, Walden, freshman Karavin Dew and freshman Katrina Metoyer all recorded hits to give WKU the win. Metyoer's double was the game-winning hit for the Lady Toppers as she batted in the final two runs of the night. Nathanson pitched in game two striking out two Tigers' and giving up just three hits.
The Lady Toppers open up the 2010 regular season on Friday, Feb. 12 when they travel to Mobile, Ala. to take part in the South Alabama Tournament. On Feb. 27, the Lady Toppers will begin Sun Belt play when they host Florida International for a weekend series in Bowling Green at the WKU Softball Field.
