April 23, 2014
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BOWLING GREEN, Ky.— Timely hits by Lipscomb (36-11) helped the Lady Bisons cruise to a 7-1 win over the Western Kentucky University softball team (31-17-1) on Wednesday at the WKU Softball Complex.
Lipscomb used eight hits and two WKU errors to notch the win, as five runs off of three hits came against freshman Hannah Miniard (13-5) in the first 4.1 innings of the game. Miniard walked seven batters while striking out four. Senior Emily Rousseau finished the contest with two runs, none earned, off of five hits.
Lipscomb pitcher Ashley Anderson (18-4) went the distance in the win, giving out five hits and two walks while posting four strikeouts.
The visitors reached the scoreboard first, taking a 1-0 lead in the third after a Paige Neely RBI double. WKU responded in the bottom frame to knot the game at 1, as senior Amanda Thomas repeated the action with her own RBI double to score sophomore Brooke Holloway after she reached on a single to right field.
A four-run fifth inning from Lipscomb opened the gates for a 5-1 lead, as a walk, hit by pitch and intentional walk loaded the bases with one out. Mimi Cartwright then cleared the bases with a double to right center before a Bridgette Begle RBI single added the final run.
A pair of runs came in the seventh for Lipscomb after capitalizing on two hits and an error. Rena' Cothron would bring in the runs off of a two-RBI single before getting out at second trying to stretch the hit to extra bases.
WKU had chances to score, as senior Olivia Watkins was left at third base in the first and fifth inning after she had two hits, a sacrifice bunt and her 50th stolen base of the season during the contest. The Lady Toppers also left two runners on in the third and one in the sixth.
WKU will host its final Sun Belt Conference series in program history this weekend when No. 20 South Alabama comes to Bowling Green. The series begins with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. CT on Saturday, April 26 before concluding with game three on Sunday at noon CT. The Lady Toppers will celebrate Senior Day on Saturday in between games of the twinbill to honor the team's five seniors.
For more information on WKU softball, visit WKUSports.com or follow the team on Twitter via @WKUSoftball.
