Bowling Green, Ky. - The Lady Topper softball team (17-11, 0-3 SBC) bounced back Tuesday evening hitting into a sweep over Belmont, 3-1 in game one and 9-1 in game two after five innings.
On the day the Lady Toppers tallied 12 runs off 15 hits, with a home run by junior Amanda Walden, breaking last season's home run total of 17, the Lady Toppers now have 18 home runs on the season. Sophomore Karavin Dew went five-for-six at the plate with one triple, two runs and three RBI. Freshman Amanda Thomas went three-for-six at the plate with one double, one triple, three runs and two RBI. WKU out-hit Belmont 15-10, striking out nine Belmont batters. Freshman Kelsie Mattox tallied three stolen bases on the day.
"It was good to see us figure things out and be aggressive, especially in the second game today," said head coach Tyra Perry. "I think it was imperative that we showed maturity and growth after this past weekend. Karavin Dew came out and played really explosive, I think she was a spark plug today, the same with Amanda Walden today, it's good to see both of them have success."
In game one, the Lady Toppers tallied three runs off six hits, leaving seven runners stranded. Dew went three-for-three at the plate with one and two RBI. Sophomore Mallorie Sulaski pitched the seven innings giving up one run off seven hits while striking out five batters, improving her record to 7-4 on the season.
Belmont opened the game in the top of the third inning with one run off three hits, leaving three runners on base. With a runner on base from a walk, the Bruins followed up with two singles and a double by Hannah Irwin bringing one run in for the first run of the game.
The Lady Toppers knotted the game in the bottom of the fifth inning with one run off one hit, leaving two runners on base. Dew led off with a triple through the right side. Dew came in on a Bruins wild pitch, for the tying run in the bottom of the fifth. The Lady Toppers had the chance to take the lead leaving two runners on base.
WKU took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning with two runs off two hits with one Belmont error, leaving one runner on base. Walden reached on an error by the Bruins catcher. Freshman Amanda Thomas followed up with a single to left field, followed by a ground out by sophomore Katrina Metoyer advancing runners to second and third. A single to left field by Dew brought two runs in for the Lady Toppers to close-out the first game.
In the nightcap, the Lady Toppers tallied nine runs off nine hits leaving only two runners stranded in five innings. Thomas went two-for-three at the plate with two runs and two RBI's. Walden tallied her third home run of the season and third career home run, tallying one run and two RBI. Sophomore Kim Wagner pitched the five innings allowing one run off three hits while striking out four batters, she improves her record to 8-5 on the season.
The Lady Toppers opened game two in the bottom of the third inning with six runs off four hits and two Belmont errors. Dew opened with a single to left center advancing to second on a ground-out. Mattox tallied a single to left field and stole second. Dew was brought in on a Bruins error, Smith stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. A second error by Belmont brought another run in. Thomas drilled a triple to right field bringing two runs in. Walden then hit a home run to left center for the sixth run.
Belmont posted one run off two hits in the top of the fourth inning. A single to left field and a single to third base followed by a wild pitch brought the one run in.
WKU extended the lead in the bottom of the fourth with one run off two hits and one Belmont error. Mattox hit a double through the left side followed by a single by junior Laura Smith bringingt Mattox in for the run. The Lady Toppers closed-out the game in the bottom of the fifth inning with two runs off three hits. Thomas hit a double to left center followed by a double to center field by Metoyer bringing Thomas in for the run. Dew singled up the middle bringing Metoyer in for the ninth run of the game.
The Lady Toppers (17-11, 0-3 SBC) host Florida Atlantic this weekend in Sun Belt Conference action, Saturday and Sunday at the WKU Softball Complex, first pitch slated for 1 p.m., Saturday.
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