Missouri State Box Score
Austin Peay Box Score
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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- WKU softball rebounded from a tough opening day of the Holiday Inn Hilltopper Classic in order to notch victories over Missouri State and Austin Peay Saturday afternoon at the WKU Softball Complex. WKU used late-game heroics to edge Missouri State, 4-3, and then notched its second shutout victory on the year with a 5-0 triumph over Austin Peay.
GAME 1: WKU 4, Missouri State 3 (7 INN.)
After falling behind 2-0 after a half inning of play, WKU's Brooke Holloway started the Lady Toppers day off with a bang in the home half of the first as the senior registered a lead-off solo home run to center field. The homer was Holloway's first of the season and 12th for her career.
Still trailing 3-1 entering the bottom of the second, WKU inched closer after junior Kathryn Downing drove in Taylor Proctor off a single to right field. WKU would complete its comeback in the fourth inning as an RBI groundout by freshman Kelsey McGuffin knotted the score at 3.
The two teams remained tied throughout the next two and a half innings of play before junior walk-on Taylor Proctor provided the game-winning hit after driving in Carleigh Chaumont from third base in the bottom of the seventh inning off a pop up single to third base.
Downing and freshman Bryce Holmgren led WKU at the plate as both players finished 2-for-3 on the contest. As a team, WKU outhit Missouri State 9-7.
Sophomore Hannah Parker (3-1) was credited with the win for WKU after throwing a complete game and totaling five strikeouts for the Lady Toppers.
GAME 2: WKU 5, AUSTIN PEAY 0 (7 INN.)
WKU's McGuffin and Holloway once again teamed up in the Lady Toppers' second game of the day as each player recorded a home run. Combined, the duo accounted for four of WKU's five total runs.
The big hits commenced in the fourth inning as McGuffin recorded her first career homer on a two-run shot to center field as the Lady Toppers took a 3-0 advantage over the Lady Govs.
Holloway continued the hitting show in the sixth inning as the senior hit her second home run on the day off a two-run blast to right field as WKU went up 5-0. Both McGuffin and Holloway finished the contest 2-for-3 at the plate.
The two big hits proved to be all the Lady Toppers would need to earn the sweep on the day as Hannah Parker (4-1) threw another gem in the circle for WKU. Parker finished with a career-high nine strikeouts and allowed just three hits as the sophomore once again earned a complete-game victory.
On the day, Holloway finished 3-for-6 with three RBI, two home runs and a triple while McGuffin went 2-for-5 while also knocking in three runs. Parker recorded a 1.50 ERA on two victories and also recorded 14 total strikeouts on the day.
The final day of the 2016 Holiday Inn Hilltopper Classic has been cancelled due to inclement weather expected Sunday in the greater Bowling Green area.
WKU (5-3) is set to return to the field next weekend as WKU will host the Holiday Inn Hilltopper Spring Fling at the WKU Softball Complex. The Lady Toppers' first game will be against Valparaiso at 2 p.m. CT Friday afternoon.
