March 9, 2014
Box Score vs. Georgia Southern
Box Score vs. College of Charleston
KNOXVILLE, Tenn.—The Western Kentucky University softball team (15-7-1) split its final games of the Tennessee Tournament, defeating Georgia Southern (16-6) in game one 3-0 while falling in a comeback by College of Charleston (15-7) by a score of 5-4 on Sunday at Sherri Parker Lee Stadium.
WKU finished the tournament 4-1, as seniors Olivia Watkins and Kelsie Mattox along with junior Preslie Cruce all hit above .350 for the weekend, led by Watkins' .438. Cruce put in four runs for the Lady Toppers while Mattox totaled five RBI.
WKU plays in its first midweek contests of the season, taking on UAB in Birmingham on Tuesday at 3 p.m. CT before traveling to Tennessee Tech on Wednesday for a 2 p.m. CT tilt. Twitter updates for each game will be available with @WKU_GameDay.
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GAME ONE—WKU 3, Georgia Southern 0
WKU opened its final day of the Tennessee Tournament with a shutout win over Georgia Southern, 3-0.
Freshman Hannah Miniard (7-1) recorded her third complete-game shutout win of the season, giving up three hits and four walks while striking out nine.
The Lady Toppers tabbed four hits in the contest, led by Mattox's 2-for-3 effort. Watkins and junior Shawna Sadler posted one hit each.
WKU immediately jumped on board to open the game after a home run from Mattox put the Lady Toppers up 2-0 in the first. With one away, Watkins singled down the first-base line before moving on a groundout and wild pitch. Mattox then took a 3-2 pitch over the left field wall for the early advantage.
An insurance run came in the sixth after Watkins opened the frame reaching on an error. After stealing second, Watkins stole third before being able to score on a throwing error by the catcher.
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GAME TWO—College of Charleston 5, WKU 4
Leading for 6.5 innings, WKU fell in its final game of the tournament after College of Charleston came back in its last turn at bat to take the 5-4 win.
Miniard (7-2) took the loss after coming in as relief for 1.2 innings to give up three hits and three earned runs along with two walks. Junior Janna Scheff earned the start, as she had five hits against her with two runs, one earned, in five innings of work.
Watkins, Mattox and senior Amanda Thomas had two hits each, as WKU posted eight hits in the contest. Watkins has extended her hit streak to 13-straight games while Mattox has reached base safely in the last 12.
Aggressive plays in the first inning allowed WKU to go up 3-0. Cruce led off the game with a walk before advancing on a Watkins bunt single. With bases loaded after Mattox was hit by pitch, Thomas sent a sacrifice fly to right field to score Cruce. Sadler then laid down a bunt in front of home plate where Watkins beat the throw home while Mattox scored on the throw trying to get Sadler at second.
Back-to-back hits by the Cougars put runners on base in the second inning. An error by Cruce then allowed the runner at third to add CofC's first run. The lead was cut to 3-2 in the bottom fifth after a RBI single down the right field line.
Mattox continued to have the hot bat, as she hit a RBI single to right field to extend WKU's lead to 4-2 when bringing pinch runner Amber Williams in from second base. Williams came in for Cruce who got an infield single followed by Thomas' hit to left field.
A pair of walks and a single loaded the bases for the Cougars with two outs in the bottom seventh. CofC then hit a double down the left field line to tie the game 4 each before a walk-off single up the middle sealed the win for the Cougars.
For more information on WKU softball, visit WKUSports.com or follow the team on Twitter via @WKUSoftball.
