BOWLING GREEN, Ky.- The Western Kentucky University softball team (14-8, 4-1 SBC) shutout Sun Belt Conference foe Florida Atlantic (14-17, 3-2 SBC) in a doubleheader on Saturday with scores of 8-0 in five innings and 3-0 in the second game at the WKU Softball Complex.
Juniors Amanda Thomas and Olivia Watkins had three hits each during the pair of games while Thomas had a home run in each of the contests. Thomas along with fellow classmate Kelsie Mattox had three RBI at the end of the day.
Game One-WKU 8, Florida Atlantic 0 (5 inn.)
WKU opened the series in dominating fashion, taking a run-ruled 8-0 win after posting nine hits against the Owls.
Junior Emily Rousseau (7-3) allowed just two hits in her second shutout of the season. The Louisiana native struck out five while allowing no walks. Owls' pitcher Taylor Fawbush (6-7) took the loss after allowing six hits and seven runs.
After going 1-2-3 in the first inning, WKU came out of the gates in the second with back-to-back home runs from Thomas and Mattox to set the score at 2-0. The Lady Toppers added one more run in the following inning when Thomas put down a RBI double with two outs.
WKU closed out the game with a five-run fifth inning sparked by a senior Katrina Metoyer triple to score Watkins. Metoyer then made her way home off of a fielding error on the Owls. With Thomas on third after a walk and moving on the earlier miscue, Mattox powered her second home run of the game over center field to extended the lead to 7-0. After two immediate outs following a pitching change, sophomore Shawna Sadler put down a bunt single to set up the game-ending run after senior Karavin Dew added the RBI single through the left side.
Game Two-WKU 3, Florida Atlantic 0
The Lady Toppers secured the series against the Owls with a 3-0 win in the second game of the day.
One swing from Thomas was the only form of offense on the scoreboard, as the Mesquite, Texas, native hit a three-run home run in the first inning, scoring Cruce and Watkins who each made it to base from a single.
Senior Mallorie Sulaski (4-3) earned the victory in the pitching circle after giving up four hits and striking out four. Sulaski, like her counterpart Rousseau in the earlier game, didn't allow a walk. Florida Atlantic's Samantha Messer (2-2) gave up three hits in the loss after one inning of work. Stephanie Call then came in to finish the game, allowing two hits and two walks.
The series with Florida Atlantic concludes on Sunday, March 17 with a scheduled noon first pitch. With inclement weather predicted for the Bowling Green area, continue to stay up-to-date on any changes at WKUSports.com or on Twitter @WKUSports.
