Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)
Photo Gallery 
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- WKU softball opened its Conference USA season on a high note as the Lady Toppers swept FIU (17-14, 3-2 C-USA) in a Saturday doubleheader at the WKU Softball Complex.
WKU began the day with a balanced offensive attack, defeating the Panthers, 10-2, in six innings. The Lady Toppers would then use a dramatic walk-off hit in the nightcap to rally past FIU for a thrilling, 5-4 victory.
GAME 1: WKU 10, FIU 2 (6 inn.)
The Lady Topper bats lit up the sky in the first game of the twin bill as eight WKU players combined for a season-best 12 total hits, including a combined four home runs.
With the teams knotted at two entering the bottom of the fourth inning, big hits from Carleigh Chaumont and Jordan Mauch helped WKU put together a four-run inning.
A bases-loaded sacrifice fly from Chaumont drove in Kathryn Downing while Mauch's first home run of the day, a three-run shot to center field, helped WKU take a 6-2 advantage over the Panthers.
Mauch's blast was the first of many big hits for WKU as sophomore Lexie Norfleet followed with a solo shot in the fifth inning. Mauch would then put together an encore presentation with her second homer of the day, a lead-off shot to begin the deciding sixth inning.
Rookie Bryce Holmgren continued WKU's aerial assault of the Panthers by ending the contest in the sixth with a walk-off, two-run home run as WKU went on for the 10-2 victory.
Mauch finished a career-day at the plate by going 3-for-4. Her first career two-home run game helped the sophomore finish with a total of four RBI. Holmgren finished 2-for-4 and her sixth inning homer was the freshman's second walk-off hit of her career.
WKU's four home runs was the most a Lady Topper team has hit since March 29, 2014 when WKU recorded three blasts at UT Arlington.
Downing (4-1) complemented WKU's hot bats with a terrific performance in the circle as the junior allowed just two FIU hits and no earned runs in six innings of work. She also added four strikeouts while only walking one Panther.
GAME 2: WKU 5, FIU 4
The nightcap of the Saturday's twin bill was drama-filled as the Lady Toppers used a seventh inning rally and another walk-off hit to earn the doubleheader sweep of FIU.
WKU used a first-inning RBI single from Hannah Parker and a sacrifice fly from Taylor Proctor in the fifth in order to take a 2-0 lead over the Panthers heading into the seventh and final inning.
Facing their final out of the game, FIU responded by scoring four unearned runs off three RBI singles as the Panthers pulled ahead, 4-2.
WKU would orchestrate a successful rally of its own as senior Brooke Holloway began the bottom of the seventh with a lead-off home run to center field as the Lady Toppers pulled to within a single run.
The Lady Toppers would tie up the contest off an FIU error and Lexie Norfleet played the hero by ending the contest in WKU's favor with a walk-off single to left field as the home team pulled out a thrilling, 5-4 victory.
WKU finished the contest with nine total hits from six different players. Holloway, Chaumont and Holmgren led the way as each player recorded a pair of hits.
Parker (6-7) earned the victory as the sophomore allowed no earned runs in seven innings in the circle. The Iowa-native also added six strikeouts on the contest.
"I'm extremely proud of the team's determination and fight that was put on display today," head coach Amy Tudor said. "We came into this series with the mindset that it was the start of our second season and this young team really showed up to play."
WKU (10-12, 2-0 C-USA) will look for the series sweep Sunday afternoon as the two teams are set to finish the weekend series with a noon CT contest at the WKU Softball Complex.
