HUNTINGTON, W.Va.-- Playing in its first Conference USA series, WKU softball (10-5, 2-1) took its opening series 2-1 at Marshall (16-8, 3-3). The Lady Toppers fell in the first game 2-0 in 10 innings before winning the last two, 3-2 and 9-5.
For the series, Brooke Holloway and Larissa Franklin led the team with four hits and three runs each while Franklin and Preslie Cruce posted three RBI apiece. WKU's pitchers totaled 30 strikeouts over the 23.2 innings pitched, as Miranda Kramer (7-4) fanned 26 while holding Marshall to a .189 batting average.
WKU returns to the field in non-conference action next week, traveling to No. 9 Tennessee on March 17 and Ball State for a three-game series beginning with a doubleheader on March 21.
GAME ONE--Marshall 2, WKU 0 (10 inn.)
After a suspension in action in the bottom 10th on Friday, the teams resumed play on Saturday where Marshall took quick steps in the new day to take the 2-0 walkoff win.
Action resumed for the Herd batters with two outs on the board before a walk and then home run sealed the win.
The contest was a pitchers' duel with WKU's Miranda Kramer striking out 15 in the game with four hits allowed while Marshall's Jordan Dixon had 13 strikeouts with five hits given out. The Herd opened the game with a bunt single, but Kramer didn't allow another hit until the sixth inning.
GAME TWO--WKU 3, Marshall 2
The Lady Toppers tied the series with a 3-2 win to notch their first-ever Conference USA victory.
Kramer was solid for a second-straight game, tossing all seven innings while having 11 strikeouts and six hits to her stat line. At the plate, Franklin went 2-for-4 with two RBI to lead the Lady Toppers.
WKU opened the scoring in the second with a Franklin hit brining in Holloway before Marshall knotted the game in the fourth. Dani Pugh hit her fourth home run of the year in the fifth inning to break the 1-1 tie. Kacie Freeman added an insurance run in the sixth after pinch running for Hannah Parker, who reached on a single and moved to second on a Kayti Hanson sacrifice bunt. The Herd got back a run in the seventh off of three hits, but wouldn't be enough.
GAME THREE--WKU 9, Marshall 5
Marshall jumped out to an early lead, but five late runs in the final frames gave WKU the series-clinching win, 9-5.
The offense clicked in the final game, as WKU totaled 12 hits with Holloway leading the way with three. Preslie Cruce and Jacqueline McGill notched two each while Franklin crossed home plate three times in the contest.
In the circle, Parker (3-1) earned the win after allowing 10 hits, four earned runs, four walks and four strikeouts.
Marshall went up 4-1 after two innings of action, capitalizing on five hits, two walks and an error. WKU began chipping away at the Herd's lead in the third and fourth innings, as a two-run homer hit by Cruce made it 4-3 before a Holloway RBI single tied it at 4 apiece.
A three-run sixth frame put the Lady Toppers ahead for good, as Franklin, Freeman and Holloway made it home in the inning off of three hits and a Marshall miscue. In the seventh, two more runs came in thanks in part to two more Herd errors.
For information on season tickets at $25 through the flexible season ticket plan, visitWKUSports.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.
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