BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The Lady Toppers snapped a five game losing streak on Wednesday night defeating Morehead State 9-3 in game two of a doubleheader. In game one, the Lady Toppers fell to the Eagles 5-0. With the split, the Lady Toppers are now 26-19 this season while Morehead State is 24-17.
After loading the bases in the bottom of the first inning, Morehead State recorded a double play to end the inning and keep WKU off then scoreboard. Then in the top of the second inning, the Eagles posted their first run of the day after Rebecca Butler hit a home run over the fence in right center field.
Morehead State then extended its lead in the third inning scoring one run off one hit and one WKU error. The Eagles' Anna Sommer reached first base off WKU's first error the day. On first, she crossed home plate off a double to right center field by Kayla Brill. Morehead State then added three runs to their total in the fourth inning to take a 5-0 lead. The Eagles scored their three runs in the inning off another WKU error and three hits, by Elizabeth Wagner, Brill and Kayla Ashbrook.
The Lady Toppers failed to score in the game picking up just three hits, two of which came from the efforts of freshman Ciara Garcia. Junior Sara Williams collected WKU's final hit. Freshman pitcher Kim Wagner recorded the loss for the Lady Toppers falling to 14-7 this season. In the game, she gave up five runs, one earned, and eight hits.
In game two it was the Lady Toppers who got on the board first taking a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Senior Shannon Smith kicked things off in the inning hitting a single to right center field. With junior Brittney Perry pinch running for Smith, she advanced to second off a Kelsey McCauley single. Then, senior Rachelle Boucher, who was pinch hitting for junior Elizabeth Ferrell, loaded the bases picking up a walk. With the bases loaded, Garcia singled to drive in Perry and McCauley while Ferrell, who returned to the game, and Garcia advanced an extra base on the throw. Up 2-0, Ferrell then scored after a ground out by senior Jamie Hennis. Senior Brooke Reed kept things going for the Lady Toppers in the inning picking up an RBI when she drove in Garcia after hitting a single to left field. Finally, senior Lindsay Antone hit a triple to right field to score Reed from first base.
The Lady Toppers kept their scoring alive in the bottom of the third inning scoring another two runs. Williams was the first Lady Topper to bat in the inning posting a single to center field. She advanced to second on the Lady Toppers' next at bat when McCauley recorded another single, this time to left field. With runners on first and second, Garcia recorded a walk to reach base and, once again, the bases were loaded for WKU. ON the next at bat, Hennis blasted a double to center field to score Williams and McCauley from second and third base.
Morehead State scored their first run in the game in the top of the fourth inning after Brill hit a home run over the fence in center field. After cutting WKU's lead to six, the Eagles scored two more runs in the inning off one more hit and two WKU errors.
The Lady Toppers responded to Morehead State in the bottom of the fifth inning picking up two runs on two hits and one Eagle error. McCauley started the inning off recording a double to left field. She then advanced to third off a ground out by Ferrell and scored on the next at bat, a fielder's choice that allowed Garcia to reach first. After advancing to second on the throw, Garcia advanced to third off an error by the Eagles with Hennis at bat. Garcia then made it 9-3 WKU when Reed hit a single to right field.
WKU racked up 12 hits in the game and were lead by Hennis and McCauley who each had three a piece. Sulaski picked up the win for the Lady Toppers pitching six innings and giving up three hits and three runs, one earned. Sophomore Dana Nathanson recorded her first save of the season pitching the final inning and giving up zero hits.
WKU will now head to Denton, Texas to take on North Texas on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, the Lady Toppers and Mean Green will play at 2 and 4 p.m. CT.
