BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The WKU softball team took on Belmont in their final non-conference games of the season before hosting Middle Tennessee in their final Sun Belt series before the SBC Tournament. In game one, the Lady Toppers picked up a 6-3 win and the Lady Toppers completed the sweep in game two with a 4-3 victory.
The Lady Toppers took control of the game in the first inning scoring their first run in the bottom of the inning. Junior was the first Lady Topper to round the bases after reaching first following a fielder’s choice. After senior Rachelle Boucher and Terri Ellingsworth singled to advance Boucher to second, senior Rebecca Horeksy singled to left field to pick up the Lady Toppers’ first RBI of the night.
WKU made it 2-0 in the second inning scoring their second run of the night off a single by junior Jamie Hennis. After senior Sam Cronk walked to reach base and advanced to second after a sacrifice bunt by junior Kelsey McCaulye, she scored after Hennis’ base hit.
In the third inning, Terri Ellingsworth made it 3-0 WKU after she blasted her 11th homerun of season into the parking lot in center field.
Belmont closed WKU’s lead to one in the fourth inning scoring two runs, two hits and one WKU error. But, in the bottom of the inning, the Lady Toppers responded scoring two runs of their own to take a 5-2 lead. Junior Lindsay Antone kicked things off for the Lady Toppers reaching base after being hit by a pitch. Then, she advanced to second following a Cronk sacrifice bunt. With Antone on second, McCauley reached base off a fielder’s choice and both base runners reached home after a throwing error by Belmont’s shortstop that sent the ball into the fence in right field.
After Belmont started the inning with a double to center field, the Bruins scored their third run of the game to cut WKU’s lead to two. With Hannah Irwin on second, she advanced to third following a ground out by Julie Harmon. Then, she crossed home plate after a single by Stayci Cook to third base.
WKU answered Belmont’s score in the bottom of the sixth inning after Belmont committed their second error of the game. This time, it was Cronk who scored for the Lady Toppers after walking for the second time of the game. After advancing to second following McCauley’s second sacrifice bunt of the game and stealing third, Cronk gave WKU a three run lead when sophomore Brittney Perry reached base after Belmont’s error.
Senior Ryan Rogge picked up her 23rd win of the season with the victory holding Belmont to just six hits. The Lady Toppers collected seven hits in the game while posting one error.
In game two, it was Belmont who scored first scoring their first run of the game in the first inning off a sacrifice fly. WKU tied the game up at one in the bottom of the third inning after Reed walked to start the inning and scored two batters later off a wild pitch by Belmont’s starting pitcher.
Then, in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Lady Toppers took the lead for the first time in the game picking up their second run to take a 2-1 lead. With two outs, McCauley got things going for the Lady Toppers picking up a single to center field. Then, Reed came through for th Lady Toppers once again recording a single to right field that advanced McCauley to second. Both McCauley and Reed advanced following a another wild pitch by Belmont and McCauley scored one batter later when Hennis recorded a base hit.
WKU picked up their final two runs of the game in the sixth inning after Belmont’s pitcher committed two more wild pitches to score McCauley and Reed, who had reached base off a fielder’s choice and a walk.
Belmont made it interesting in the top of the seventh inning hitting a two-run homer to close WKU’s lead to one. But, the Lady Toppers pulled through and picked up the win to complete the sweep after Rogge came in to get the last out in the game.
Senior pitcher Jennifer Kempf improved to 7-9 with the win after allowing Belmont to pick up eight hits. The Lady Toppers completed the game with five hits.
WKU will host Middle Tennessee this weekend in their last regular season series. On Saturday, the two teams will play at 1 and 3 p.m. CT and gametime on Sunday is set for 1 p.m.
