BOX SCORE
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. The WKU softball team made quick work of the Evansville Purple Aces Thursday night, winning 3-0 in one hour and 26 minutes at the WKU Softball Field. Amanda Thomas and Kelsie Mattox each hit home runs for the Lady Toppers as WKU played it's final home game of the 2012 season.
Evansville (15-36) attempted to get on the board first Wednesday night. Alicia Betancur led off the top of the second by reaching on an error. Niki Rahming then singled to centerfield. Halie Malone followed with a fielder's choice. Rahming was out at second with Betancur reaching third. WKU (29-23-1) starting pitcher Kim Wagner would keep the Purple Aces off the scoreboard by getting a pair of groundouts to end the inning.
The Lady Toppers took the lead in the bottom of the second. Laura Smith led off the inning by being hit by a pitch from Evansville's Sarah Patterson. After a popout, Thomas hit a home run to straight away centerfield to give WKU a 2-0 lead. It was Thomas' ninth home run of the season. The Purple Aces attempted a comeback in the fifth inning. With one out, Victoria Dellorto and Katie Sears hit back-to-back singles. The two runners then attempted a double steal. Karavin Dew attempted to throw out Dellorto at throw, but her throw went into left field. However, Kelsie Mattox backed up the play and threw home to get Dellorto for the second out. With Sears at third, Wagner struck out Tamara Robey to end the inning.
Mattox put the Lady Toppers ahead 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, the sophomore outfielder hit a home run over the left centerfield fence. It was Mattox's 14th home run of the season, tying her with Terri Ellingsworth for the second-most home runs in a single season in WKU history. She is now one home run away from tying Lindsay Antone's single-season record of 15 home runs. Wagner closed the door on Evansville from there. The junior pitcher allowed just one baserunner in the final two innings to get her fourth shutout of the season.
Wagner allowed six hits for the complete game win, striking out three batters and walking just one. Patterson allowed five hits and also struck out three batters. The Purple Aces left seven runners on base.
WKU will wrap up the regular season on Saturday with a doubleheader at Middle Tennessee. Game one is set for 1 p.m. with the nightcap scheduled for 3 p.m.
