Box Score (Game 2)
HATTIESBURG, Miss.
- WKU softball's Hannah Parker pitched six innings of hit-less action Saturday afternoon, helping the Lady Toppers shutout Southern Miss, 4-0, as the two teams split a Conference USA doubleheader Saturday afternoon at the Southern Miss Softball Complex.
GAME 1: WKU 2, SOUTHERN MISS 3 (9 INN.)
WKU jumped out to a 2-0 advantage early in the first game of the day as Jordan Mauch registered her 22nd RBI of the season off a SAC fly that helped Taylor Proctor cross home plate.
The Lady Toppers added another run shortly after as senior Brooke Holloway crossed home plate due to a run-down situation at first base. Once Holloway was safely across home, sophomore Hannah Parker ended up being thrown out at second off a steal attempt.
Southern Miss quickly slashed WKU's lead in half off a solo home run to lead the home half of the third inning. The Golden Eagles knotted the score in the bottom of the fifth as a two-out WKU error from third base allowed the game-tying run to cross home plate.
Southern Miss threatened to end the game in the bottom of the seventh as the Golden Eagles loaded the bases with just one out. Redshirt sophomore Kelsey Jernigan delivered a pair of crucial strikeouts in order to send the game into extra innings.
WKU found itself in a similar situation in the top of the eighth as a bunt single from Carleigh Chaumont loaded the bases full of Lady Toppers with just one out. A pair of strikeouts quickly followed, however, as WKU failed to register the go-ahead run.
The two teams remained knotted heading into the bottom of the ninth before a walk-off single from USM's Samantha Papp drove in the game winning as Southern Miss edged WKU, 3-2.
Rookie Bryce Holmgren led WKU's offense with a 3-for-3 performance while fellow freshman Kelsey McGuffin added a pair of hits on four at-bats.
GAME 2: WKU 4, SOUTHERN MISS 0
WKU's Hannah Parker fell an inning shy of her first career no-hitter in the day's nightcap as the sophomore's stellar, one-hit performance propelled WKU to a 4-0 shutout victory over Southern Miss (17-20, 4-7 C-USA).
The Lady Toppers jumped out of the gates swinging as senior Brooke Holloway recorded her team-leading sixth home run of the year on a two-run shot to right field in the top of the first inning.
WKU would further add to its lead in the third off another big hit from Holloway as the veteran drove in her third run of the game on an RBI single up the left field. With runners on the corners, WKU would add another run on the next at-bat as a double steal helped Holloway take second while sophomore Carleigh Chaumont nabbed home.
WKU's four runs would prove to be more than enough as Parker turned in a dynamite performance in the circle. The sophomore's no-hit attempt lasted into the seventh inning before USM's Lauren Holifield's lead-off single to center field would break up history in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Undeterred from the hit, Parker maintained her focus to ensure it would be the last of the day as a 643 double play ended the game, giving the Lady Toppers their fourth shutout victory on the year, 4-0, and the split on the day.
Holloway led WKU's offense with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate with one home run and 3 RBI. Holmgren continued her perfection at the plate with a 2-for-2 performance as the rookie finished 5-for-5 on the day.
The victory was Parker's team-leading seventh of the year and her third shutout. The Iowa-native notched six strikeouts and just one hit over seven innings in the circle.
Saturday marked the second time this season a WKU pitcher has thrown a one-hitter as junior Kathryn Downing allowed just one hit in WKU's 2-0 victory over Central Arkansas on March 6.
WKU (12-17, 4-4 C-USA) returns to action Sunday afternoon as the two teams meet for a rubber match at 1 p.m. CT at the Southern Miss Softball Complex.
