Box Score vs. Michigan | Box Score vs. FSU | Photo Gallery 
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.— After a tough opening 8-0 loss to No. 7 Michigan, WKU softball challenged Unconquered Invitational host No. 5 Florida State, but the Seminoles took advantage of late WKU miscues to earn the 2-1 victory.
The Lady Toppers totaled five hits on the day with Larissa Franklin leading the squad with three. Miranda Kramer continued to rack in the Ks, ending the two games with 20 strikeouts.
WKU concludes the tourney on Saturday, Feb. 14 with an 11:30 a.m. CT game against top-20 Nebraska while facing Georgia Tech at approximately 2 p.m. CT. Live stats are available for each match to go with in-game updates through the WKU softball Twitter account, @WKUSoftball.
GAME ONE—No. 7 Michigan 8, WKU 0 (5 inn.)
In the day's first game, Michigan overpowered the Lady Toppers with an 8-0 win in five innings.
The Wolverines' offense used seven hits and capitalized on eight walks to win the run-rule contest. Michigan pitcher Haylie Wagner (1-1) earned the win, allowing Dani Pugh to the only hit in the first inning. The only other baserunners for WKU were Preslie Cruce with a walk and Brooke Holloway with a hit by pitch.
Kramer (3-2) took the loss after going four innings with six hits and six runs, five earned, to her line. The senior also walked six and struck out five.
The Lady Toppers held Michigan to a 1-0 lead until the third inning when the team used a pair of RBI singles to go up 3-0. With the bases loaded in the fourth, a bases-clearing double increased Michigan's lead to 6-0 before the squad closed the door in the fifth with a pair of runs against relief pitcher Hannah Parker.
GAME TWO—No. 5 Florida State 2, WKU 1
It was a fight in the circle in the day's later game, as Kramer and FSU stud Lacey Waldrop combined for 26 strikeouts with FSU taking the 2-1 win.
Kramer struck out 15 while allowing just two hits to the top-five team with a streak of striking out nine-straight batters. The West Burlington, Iowa, product had one earned run and five walks in the night. Waldrop (4-0) fanned 11 batters with three walks and no earned runs to her name.
WKU notched four hits in the contest with Franklin going 3-for-4 at the plate. Shawna Sadler tabbed the other team hit.
Cruce scored the lone team run in the fourth, as she stood on third base after a walk, stolen base and FSU fielding error. With Jacqueline McGill reaching on the error, a Lexie Norfleet walk loaded the bases prior to Carleigh Chaumont walking in Cruce.
The Lady Toppers held the lead until the bottom fifth when FSU didn't use a single hit to take the 2-1 advantage. Two walks and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with one out before the Seminoles capitalized on a fielding error by Chaumont.
For information on season tickets at $25 through the flexible season ticket plan, visit WKUSports.com or call the ticket office at 1-800-5-BIGRED.
The 2015 WKU softball season is being presented by the United States Marines. This season, the Marines and WKU Athletics are working together to promote the outstanding athletic and academic achievements of our female student-athletes. The Marines are proud to work with and support these future leaders of America.
For more information on WKU softball, visit WKUSports.com or follow the team on Twitter via @WKUSoftball.
