Nashville, Tenn. - The Lady Topper softball team (15-8) came out hitting to take down Tennessee State in a six inning victory, 13-4.
In the game the Lady Toppers tallied 13 runs off 10 hits with two doubles, one triple and eight RBIs. Sophomore Mallorie Sulaski tallied a triple, one run and three RBIs. Sophomore pitcher Kim Wagner went two-for-three at the plate with two runs and one RBI. Wagner aslo pitched four innings allowing three runs off five hits, striking out four batters, improving her record to 7-4 on the season.
"The team did a good job today of getting hits in a row when it counted today," said head coach Tyra Perry. "We executed a few runs and we had a couple good bunts that went down that will be important in conference play. I'm very proud of the team as a whole, it was a great team effort."
In the top of the second inning the Lady Toppers took the lead with three runs off two hits and one Tiger error. Wagner opened with a single to right field followed by a single bunt by sophomore Katrina Metoyer. Senior Brittney Perry reached on a Tiger error and advanced to third on the play bringing Wagner and Metoyer in for the first two runs. Sophomore Ciara Garcia reached on a fielders choice sacrifice bunt and advanced to third, Perry came in for the third run.
WKU added eight more runs in the top of the fourth inning off six hits and one Tiger error. Metoyer opened with a single to second base followed by a double down left field line. Two walks brought Metoyer in for the run, Garcia was brought in on a passed ball. Sulaski drilled a triple down the right field line bringing three runs in. Wagner followed up with a single to left field bringing Sulaski in for the run. A single by Metoyer and a single from Perry brought one more run in for the inning.
Tennessee State battled back adding three runs off two hits with two Lady Topper errors in the bottom of the fourth inning. The first two batters reached on errors followed by a double down the right field line by Ashley Haynes bringing one run in. Shanika Johnson hit a single up the middle and advanced on the throw bringing two runs in for the Tigers. Tennessee State added one more run in the bottom of the fifth to keep the game alive. Tedra Alford hit a double to right center and advanced to third. An error by the Lady Toppers brought the run in from third.
The Lady Toppers extended the lead in the top of the sixth inning with two runs off two hits and two Tiger errors. Freshman Megan Johnson hit a single to right center followed by a double to left center by junior Dana Nathanson and advanced to third on a throwing error bringing Johnson in. Perry reached on a throwing error and advanced to second bringing Nathanson in to close-out the game.
Freshman pitcher Brittanie Albright saw one inning of action allowing one run off one hit, while striking out two batters facing four. Nathanson pitched one inning allowing one hit while striking out two batters.
The Lady Toppers 15-8 will head to Mobile, Ala., this weekend to open Sun Belt Conference action against South Alabama. First pitch set for 1 p.m. Saturday, with second game set for 3 p.m. The Lady Toppers will close-out the series with a 12 p.m., game Sunday.
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