WKU-Butler Box
AUBURN, Ala. -- A young WKU softball team showed the resilience of a seasoned veteran Saturday afternoon as the Lady Toppers bounced back from their first loss of the year in order to pull away late for a 2-0 shutout victory over Butler (2-1) on the second day of Auburn's Plainsman Invitational.
The contest between the Lady Toppers and Bulldogs quickly turned into an old fashion pitcher's duel as both teams failed to dent the scoreboard and combined for just six hits through the first six innings of play.
Starting WKU pitcher Hannah Parker had a career day in the circle for the Lady Toppers as the native of Altoona, Iowa, held Butler hitless through the Bulldog's first three innings of play.
Butler threatened in the bottom of the fifth inning after notching a pair of hits to get two runners in scoring position with no outs. Parker quickly responded by striking out of two of the next three batters she faced as WKU escaped the jam unscathed.
WKU's bats finally came alive in a big way in the seventh inning as senior Brooke Holloway and freshman Lexie Norfleet reached base off back-to-back singles.
After a successful sacrifice bunt from junior Kathryn Downing, fellow junior Taylor Proctor loaded the bases after drawing a walk. A fielder's choice gave WKU its second out of the inning but freshman Bryce Holmgren came through in the clutch with a 2-RBI single to left as the Lady Toppers went up, 2-0.
Holmgren's hit proved to the difference in the game as Parker finished off the complete game shutout by retiring the side in the bottom of the seventh.
On the day, WKU finished with a total of six hits as Holloway led the way with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate. Parker allowed just three hits and one walk in seven innings and finished with a career-high eight strikeouts. The complete game is the sophomore's third of her career.
WKU (2-1) will conclude the three-day Plainsman Invitational Sunday morning with a contest against Furman set for 10:30 a.m. CT.
