Bowling Green, Ky. - The Lady Topper softball team (20-16, 3-6 SBC) dropped game three of the series against North Texas Sunday afternoon 11-7. WKU won the series yesterday with two victories.
The Lady Toppers tallied seven runs off eight hits with three errors, leaving eight runners stranded. WKU was out-hit by the Mean Green 13-8 on the day. Sophomore Karavin Dew went two-for-four with two triples and two runs. Freshman Kelsie Mattox went two-for-three at the plate with two runs. Junior Amanda Walden tallied a home run single for her fifth of the season, now leading the Lady Toppers in home runs. Sophomore Ciara Garcia brought in two RBI on the day. Sophomore Mallorie Sulaski pitched three innings on the day opening with 1.2 innings and returning in the sixth inning. Sulaski allowed five runs off six hits. Sophomore Kim Wagner pitched four complete innings allowing six runs off seven hits while striking out one batter, Wagner's record falls to 9-7 on the season.
"Today was going to be a tough day, North Texas is a good team and we knew that coming out," said head coach Tyra Perry. "Sweeping is a tough task to do, I don't think we came out on the mound the way we did yesterday. We scored seven runs, which normally would win a ball game. I thought the team fought back-in-forth throughout the whole game."
North Texas opened the game in the top of the first inning with two runs off three hits. Leading off with a single up the middle followed by another single put runners on first and second. The Mean Green hit their third single and advanced to second on the throw bringing one run in. A sacrifice fly brought the second run in for North Texas.
WKU battled back with one run off one hit in the bottom of the first inning. Freshman Kelsie Mattox was walked and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and to third on a ground-out. A single by freshman Megan Johnson brought Mattox in for the Lady Topper run.
The Mean Green added two more runs in the top of the second inning off one hit. A fly-out followed by a walk put a runner on first. Freshman Brooke Foster hit a home run to center field bringing two runs in for North Texas.
The Lady Toppers brought in two runs off three hits and one Mean Green error in the bottom of the third to close-in on the Mean Green lead. Mattox hit a single to center field as junior Laura Smith reached after being hit by the pitch. Garcia hit a single to center field and advanced to second on the throw, bringing Mattox in for the run. Freshman Megan Johnson reached on an error, which brought Smith in for the second run.
North Texas added one run off one hit and one Lady Topper error, leaving two on base in the top of the fourth inning. A walk placed a runner on first and advanced to second on a ground-out. A single through the right side followed by an error brought one run in.
WKU knotted the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the fourth inning with two runs off two hits and one Mean Green error, leaving two runners stranded. Dew opened with a triple to center field followed by a single to right field by sophomore Katrina Metoyer bringing Dew in for the run. North Texas changed pitchers before Mattox came in and reached on an error and advanced to second, putting runners on second and third. Smith reached after being hit by the pitch, loading the bases. Metoyer was brought in for the tying run after a sacrifice fly by Garcia.
The Lady Toppers took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning with one run off one hit, leaving one runner on base. With two outs, Dew drilled a triple down the right field line. Metoyer reached on a walk and advanced to second, while Dew was brought in on a wild pitch for the one run lead.
North Texas erased the Lady Topper lead in the top of the sixth with six runs off seven hits and one Lady Topper error. Three singles and a wild pitch brought the first run in. With two runners on base senior Mallory Cantler hit a home run to center field for three runs. Two doubles and a single brought two more runs in for the Mean Green.
WKU tried to bounce back in the bottom of the seventh inning with one run off one hit, but couldn't make up the deficit. Walden drilled a home run to center field for the run, her fifth of the season.
The Lady Toppers (20-16, 3-6 SBC) will host Samford Tuesday in a non-conference doubleheader at the WKU Softball Complex, game times of 4 and 6 p.m.
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