April 12, 2014
MONROE, La.— The Western Kentucky University softball team (28-13-1, 8-3) kept its offense rolling, as the Lady Toppers swept ULM (17-16, 3-7) in a doubleheader on Saturday at the ULM Softball Complex.
WKU took the first game 7-1 before two big offensive innings in the latter game gave WKU a 9-3 victory. The series between the Lady Toppers and Warhawks concludes with the finale on Sunday, April 13 at 1 p.m. CT, as WKU will try to notch its third conference sweep of the season.
WKU combined for 18 hits on the day while allowing seven. The Lady Toppers and ULM lead the Sun Belt Conference in stolen bases, as the teams had 19 stolen bases with WKU grabbing 13 of the bags.
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GAME ONE—WKU 7, ULM 1
ULM earned its lone run of game one off of a home run, as WKU won the starter game 7-1.
Senior Emily Rousseau (15-9) allowed four hits in the game while walking eight and striking out four. At the plate, sophomore Brooke Holloway led the team with two hits while also posting two runs and a RBI, as WKU totaled six hits off of ULM's starting pitcher Samantha Hamby (11-8). Hamby walked six while striking out five batters.
WKU capitalized on three walks, hit batter and error to take a 2-0 advantage after the top first. With juniors Preslie Cruce and Shawna Sadler in scoring position after senior Kelsie Mattox was hit by pitch, Cruce brought in the first run after ULM's Erin Bohack dropped the ball in shallow left field. With the bases loaded, junior Jacqueline McGill then walked in Sadler for another added run.
The Warhawks cut the lead in the bottom third, as Alexis Cacioppo hit a home run over the left field wall in the frame's first at-bat.
After the homer, WKU responded with a pair of runs in the fourth with sophomore Bethany Oglesby scoring on a hit up the middle by Holloway that was fumbled by the ULM centerfield bringing in the first run. It then became a 4-1 ballgame after a sacrifice fly from Sadler scored Holloway.
Three runs off of two hits and two errors sealed the win at 7-1 in the sixth. Holloway put a RBI single through the left side to score pinch runner India Steward. An error brought in Oglesby before Holloway scored on a bunt by Sadler for the final run.
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GAME TWO—WKU 9, ULM 3
With 12 hits at the plate, WKU used a pair of big innings of offense in the second game to win 9-3 for the doubleheader sweep.
Senior Olivia Watkins went 3-for-4 with two runs and three RBI and three stolen bases, as the Alabama native now has 43 swiped bags on the season for a single-season record at WKU. Cruce, Sadler and freshman Andie Martin posted a pair of hits each.
Freshman Hannah Miniard (12-4) gave up three hits with all three runs earned, as she walked four and struck out 10. ULM's Hamby (11-9) took the loss after coming in as relief for 3.1 innings, giving up four hits and six runs.
The teams traded runs in the first inning after a RBI single by Sadler gave WKU the first advantage before a triple and sac bunt by ULM knotted it in the bottom half. Both teams scored a run in the third as well, as a RBI double by Cruce put the Lady Toppers up until ULM tied it again with a Miyuki Navarrete solo home run.
WKU opened the lead up in the fifth with three runs before adding four runs in the sixth for a 7-3 lead. The Lady Toppers combined for seven hits in the two frames, including a Martin home run in the fifth. Along with the solo shot, Watkins stole home in a double steal attempt while senior Amanda Thomas tallied her seventh sacrifice fly of the season.
In the sixth, Watkins put a two-RBI double to left center before Sadler had her first homer of the season for two more runs.
For more information on WKU softball, visit WKUSports.com or follow the team on Twitter via @WKUSoftball.
