Nashville, Tenn. - The Lady Topper softball team (18-15) dropped two games Tuesday evening to Lipscomb, 3-2 in an eight inning first game and 9-5 in the nightcap.
On the day the Lady Toppers tallied seven runs off 16 hits leaving 14 runners stranded. WKU out-hit Lipscomb 16-11 in two games. Freshman Kelsie Mattox tallied four hits, hitting her fourth home run of the season, with one run and two RBI. Junior Amanda Walden also grabbed her fourth home run of the season. Sophomore Mallorie Sulaski tallied two hits with one run and two RBI.
In game one, the Lady Toppers tallied two runs off four hits leaving four runners on base, out-hitting Lipscomb 4-3. Sulaski tallied one hit with two RBI. Sulaski pitched 7.1 innings allowing three runs off three hits while striking out four batters.
Lipscomb opened the game in the bottom of the third inning with two runs off one hit and one Lady Topper error. With a ground-out and a strike out, the third batter reached on an error by the Lady Toppers followed by home run to left field by Breanna Thurman for two runs.
The Lady Toppers knotted the game in the top of the seven inning with two runs off three hits leaving two runners on base. Junior Laura Smith opened with a single up the middle, followed by a single to left field by sophomore Ciara Garcia. The bases were loaded as freshman Amanda Thomas was hit by the pitch. Sulaski drilled a single up the middle bringing two runs in to tie the game. WKU held the Lady Bison from scoring in the bottom of the seventh.
In the top of the eighth, a runner was placed on second to start the inning. A sacrifice bunt by sophomore Katrina Metoyer advanced a runner to third and taken out on a fielder's choice. Leaving one runner stranded in the top of the eighth.
Lipscomb ended the game in the bottom of the eighth with one run off one hit. With a runner placed on second, a sacrifice bunt advanced the runner to third and a single up the middle brought the run in to end the game.
In game two, the Lady Toppers tallied five runs off 12 hits with one error, leaving 10 runners stranded, out-hitting Lipscomb 12-8. Mattox went three-for-four at the plate with one home run and two RBI. Walden tallied her fourth home run of the season for one RBI. Freshman Brittanie Albright pitched 1.2 innings giving up four runs off two hit, striking out three batters, her record falls to 0-1 on the season. Sophomore Kim Wagner pitched the remaining 4.1 innings allowing five runs off six hits while striking out three batters.
The Lady Toppers opened the game in the top of the first inning with one run off one hit. Mattox opened the lineup with a home run to left center field for one run.
Lipscomb took the lead in the bottom of the second inning with three runs off one hit and one error. A single through the right side was the only hit in the inning. A hit by pitch put runners on first and second. A wild pitch moved runners up a base and an intentional walk loaded the bases. Three wild pitches and an error brought the runners in. WKU made two pitching changes in the bottom of the second.
There was a 37-minute rain delay in the bottom of the third inning. In the top of the fourth inning the Lady Toppers tallied one run off three hits, leaving two runners on base. With two outs, Walden drilled a home run to left field for one run. Sophomore Karavin Dew hit a single up the middle followed by a single through the right side by Metoyer were the two stranded runners.
Lipscomb added a run in the bottom of the fifth inning with one hit. A walk and a double down the right field line followed by a sacrifice fly brought the one run in.
WKU added one run off two hits in the top of the sixth inning, leaving two runners on base. Walden was walked followed by a single to right field by Metoyer and a single up the middle by Mattox brought one run in.
Lipscomb extended the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning with four runs off four hits. Three singles loaded the bases followed by a grand slam by Mollie Mitchell brought the four runs in.
The Lady Toppers tried to battle back in the top of the seventh inning with two runs off one hit, leaving two runners stranded. Sulaski walked followed by a single to left field by Thomas. Walden walked, loading the bases, a wild pitch brought Sulaski in for the run. A ground out brought the second run in.
The Lady Toppers (18-15) will return home to host Sun Belt Conference opponent North Texas this weekend at the WKU Softball Complex. First pitch Saturday slated for 1 p.m., game two at 3 p.m. The Lady Toppers will close-out the series Sunday at 12 p.m.
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