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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Walk-on sophomore Jordan Mauch powered WKU softball to an 8-4 victory over Western Carolina Saturday afternoon as the Lady Toppers split the twin bill, bouncing back from a 9-1 (5 inn.) loss to Ball State earlier in the day.
GAME 1: BALL STATE 9, WKU 1 (5 INN.)
WKU started the contest hot offensively as back-to-back singles from Brooke Holloway and Kelsey McGuffin followed by a bunt single from Hannah Parker loaded the bases full of Lady Toppers with no outs. Lexi Norfleet continued her strong weekend as the sophomore walked in a run as the score was knotted, 1-1, after one complete inning of play.
The two offenses went in opposite directions the following four innings of play as Ball State used three home runs from three different players in order to tally eight unanswered runs. WKU's bats would fall silent as the Lady Toppers managed just three hits over the next four innings as Ball State earned the easy, run-rule 9-1 victory.
Parker led the way offensively, finishing with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate. The sophomore was credited with just her second loss of the year in the circle after allowing six hits and four earned runs in two innings of action.
GAME 2: WKU 8, WESTERN CAROLINA 4
Sophomore Jordan Mauch delivered a superb offensive performance in WKU's second game of the day as the outfielder led the Lady Toppers to victory off a 3-for-4 effort with a pair of doubles, a two-run home run and a total of five RBIs.
WKU started fast offensively for the second consecutive game as doubles from Mauch, Brooke Holloway and Lexi Norfleet highlighted a four-hit, five-run first inning. Mauch delivered three more runs for the Lady Toppers off her two-run shot to centerfield in the second inning and an RBI double in the fourth helped WKU extend its lead lead, 8-0.
WCU (10-4) put together a rally in the top of the fifth inning as the Catamounts extended the game by putting up four runs off a total of five hits in order to cut WKU's lead in half, 8-4. The Lady Topper defense recovered as WKU allowed just one Catamount hit over the next two innings in order to pull out the victory.
Kathryn Downing (2-0) recorded her second victory on the year as the junior gave up four earned runs in 4.1 innings of action and recorded four strikeouts. Kelsey Jernigan was solid in relief duties, allowing one hit while notching a pair of strikeouts.
WKU (7-4) is set to conclude the Holiday Inn Spring Fling Sunday afternoon with a pair of contests at the WKU Softball Complex. The Lady Toppers will face Southeast Missouri State at 11:45 a.m. CT and will finish with a rematch with Western Carolina at 2 p.m. CT.
