BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - With a spot in the Sun Belt Conference Championship Tournament on the line, the Lady Toppers needed one win over the Blue Raiders on Saturday to clinch their spot in the tournament. But, after powerful hitting by the Blue Raiders, WKU was swept by Middle Tennessee in two games and end their season with a 27-25 overall record and a 6-15 record in the Sun Belt Conference. Meanwhile, Middle Tennessee clinched their spot in the tournament and improve to 21-30 this season and 7-17 in the SBC. The Lady Toppers fell to the Blue Raiders 8-0 in six innings in game one before falling 11-3 in five innings in game two.
In game one, the Lady Toppers collected just three hits. Middle Tennessee scored their first run in the bottom of the seventh inning off three singles including a single up the middle by Brittney Banania that scored loaded the bases for the Blue Raiders before Popham scored off a sacrifice fly by Corrie Abel.
The Blue Raiders scored two more runs in the third and fourth innings extending their lead to 6-0 heading into the fifth inning. In the third inning, Middle Tennessee posted four hits, a singles, to add to their lead. Then in the fourth inning, Middle Tennessee's Popham hit a double to right field to score Jessica Ives and Caitlin McClure who both walked to reach base.
In the fifth inning, Middle Tennessee added another run to their lead before they scored their final two runs of the game in the sixth inning. In the fifth inning, the Blue Raiders scored their one run off one hit, a bunt by McClure. In the sixth, Middle Tennessee scored their first run off a home run by Natalie Ysais to left field. Then, the Blue Raiders ended the game scoring their final run off a stolen base by Ives. Ives, who reached base off a single to right field, advanced to second off a sacrifice bunt by Jessi Couch and third off a single to left field by Kristi Marquez.
Senior Rachelle Boucher recorded two of WKU's three hits in the game while senior Jamie Hennis posted one hit. Freshman Kim Wagner suffered the loss for the Lady Toppers falling to 15-10 this season after giving up nine hits and five runs, all earned.
In game two, WKU scored their first run in the first inning picking up a single run off three hits. After freshman Ciara Garcia kicked off the inning with a double down the left field line, she scored two batters later when Boucher hit a single to right field.
But, Middle Tennessee scored two runs in the bottom of the second inning off three hits, two doubles and a single, to take the lead. After WKU failed to score in the top of the third, the Blue Raiders had their biggest inning of the series picking up nine runs off eight hits to take an 11-1 lead.
WKU responded in the top of the fourth inning picking up one run to cut Middle Tennessee's lead to nine. After senior Brooke Reed doubled to reach base to start the inning, she advanced to third off a fielding error by Middle Tennessee. On third, she scored WKU's third run of the game after senior Shannon Smith hit a single up the middle.
The Lady Toppers then picked up their final run of the game in the fifth inning. Boucher was the first Lady Topper to reach base recording a single and advancing to second off another error by the Blue Raiders. Then, Boucher advanced to third off a single by senior Lindsay Antone and reached home off a sacrifice fly by Reed.
WKU picked up nine hits in the game and were led by Hennis and Boucher, who each recorded two hits in the game. The loss went to freshman Mallorie Sulaski. Sulaski pitched 3.2 innings and gave up seven hits and seven runs, all earned.
