| WKU Softball at Purple and Gold Challenge | |
| Dates | Saturday, Feb. 28 |
| Location | Nashville, Tenn. IDraper Diamond at Smith Stadium |
| Tickets | LipscombSports.com |
| LiveStats | WKUSports.com |
| Game Notes | WKU Game Notes |
BOWLING GREEN, Ky.-- WKU softball made some schedule changes, but will finally return to the field on Saturday, Feb. 28 after 13 days of no games to face Akron and Dayton in Lipscomb's Purple and Gold Challenge.
The Lady Toppers open the day with Akron at 10 a.m. CT before taking on Dayton at approximately 4:45 p.m. CT at Lipscomb's Draper Diamond at Smith Stadium. Live stat links are available via WKUSports.comwhile in-game updates can be found on WKU softball's Twitter, @WKUSoftball.
- Game Notes -
LAST TIME OUT
WKU's last games came Feb. 13-14 at Florida State's Unconquered Invitational where the Lady Toppers went 2-2. In the opening day, WKU faced two top-10 teams in Michigan and FSU, falling in both. The Wolverines took a run-rule win in five innings while WKU held its own against the Seminoles, as Miranda Kramer tossed a two-hit, 15-strikeout game.
On the final day, WKU posted its pair of wins against top-20 Nebraska and Georgia Tech. In the contest against the Yellow Jackets, Hannah Parker pitched her first complete game in her collegiate career, allowing just three hits and one run to score in the victory.
SERIES VS. AKRON, DAYTON
WKU is 2-2 against the Zips with the last meeting in 2010 going down as a Lady Topper win, 4-3 in Atlanta. WKU and Dayton have met twice in program history with both going positively for the Lady Toppers. In the last contest in 2013, WKU won 7-2 in Bowling Green, as a school-record five triples were hit in the contest for the Lady Toppers.
WIN OVER TOP 25
WKU had a sweet Valentine's Day, notching a 5-1 win over No. 19 Nebraska in Tallahassee, Fla. The victory marked the third-straight season that the Lady Toppers earned a win over top-25 opponent, totaling eight over those years against Louisiana-Lafayette, South Alabama, Missouri, Tennessee and now adding Nebraska.
Against the Huskers, Kramer went the distance with her second double-digit strikeout effort of the weekend with 10. Kramer allowed seven hits, one earned run and one walk. The senior and the defense held Nebraska to four baserunners through five innings, as the Huskers' lone run came in the sixth following a bunt, double and then RBI single.
Preslie Cruce went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead the Lady Toppers while Dani Pugh tabbed two of WKU's run and Brooke Holloway drove in a pair of scores.
CRUCE REACHING BASE
Cruce leads the Lady Toppers so far this season with a .606 on-base percentage, as she is the only player to reach base in all nine games. Cruce provides an arsenal of weapons to reach first with nine hits, nine walks and two hit by pitches to her name. Her percentage ranks second in Conference USA. In the team's last tournament, Cruce recorded an on-base percentage of .643 with the next closest player coming in at .462 (Larissa Franklin). Cruce had three hits, four walks and two hit by pitches in the FSU-hosted event.
WKU's all-time leader in hit by pitches with 69, Cruce is on her way to being the career walks record holder, needing just eight more to pass Kelsie Mattox's 85. The Alabama native currently has a .462 career on-base percentage, which would rank her first in WKU history.
KRAMER DEALS OUT THE STRIKEOUTS
Coming into the year as the NCAA's active career strikeout leader, Kramer has lived up to the title. In the team's last tournament, Kramer faced three top-20 teams, going 1-2 against them. The Iowa native totaled 30 strikeouts for the weekend, notching double figures against Florida State and Nebraska. Through her six appearances this season, Kramer has four double-digit efforts while posting 37 in her career.
With 35.0 innings pitched and six appearances this season, Kramer ranks second in Conference USA in strikeouts with 68. Above Kramer is Marshall's Jordan Dixon (114 SO) who has 78.2 innings pitched and appeared in all 14 of the team's games. Below Kramer is UAB's Megan Smith (41 SO) with 47.0 innings pitched in 10 appearances.
HOLDING STRONG IN THE CIRCLE WITH TWO OUTS
WKU's starting pitchers of Kramer and Parker are holding opponents with two outs on the board. Kramer has opponents hitting .081 with two outs, allowing just three hits in 37 at-bats. The senior has recorded 21 strikeouts as the final out of a frame. Parker's opponents are hitting .125 with the freshman giving up two hits in 16 at-bats. Parker has three strikeouts for an inning's final out while letting her defense get out of the inning 12 times.
HOME TOURNEY CANCELLATIONS
Mother Nature played her hand in WKU's season, forcing the cancellations of WKU's home tournaments. In total, WKU lost out on 11 home games. Over the week, Bowling Green saw 10-15 inches of snow, freezing temperatures, rain and five days of no classes.
ON DECK
WKU will try again at hosting its home opener, this time with Louisiana Tech coming to Bowling Green on March 7-8. The games also mark the start of the Conference USA era for the Lady Toppers, who were picked to finish fifth in the league in the coaches' preseason poll.
For information on season tickets at $25 through the flexible season ticket plan, visit WKUSports.comor 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.
