Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- WKU softball faltered late in both games of its Saturday doubleheader with Samford as the Bulldogs used late-inning scoring rallies in order to record the sweep over the Lady Toppers on the day.
Game 1: WKU 1, Samford 8 (9 inn.)
The opening contest of the day was a low scoring affair throughout the first seven innings as the Bulldogs used a first-inning RBI double in order to take a 1-0 advantage heading into the bottom of the seventh.
WKU's struggling offense, limited to just one hit through the first six innings by Samford's Mollie Hanson, would be momentarily ignited by senior Brooke Holloway.
In the bottom of the seventh, the veteran shortstop led off the inning with a solo shot to right field that extended the contest into extra innings for the sixth time on the year.
After a scoreless eighth inning, the top of the ninth proved to be the difference in the game as the Bulldogs' bats came alive as Samford used five hits and a Lady Topper error in order to notch seven runs.
That outburst proved to be more than enough as the Lady Toppers comeback fell short as the visitors took the opener, 8-1.
WKU was held to just three hits on the contest as SU's Hanson threw an absolute gem at the plate, allowing just one earned run and racking up 11 strikeouts.
Hannah Parker (10-13) was awarded with the loss as the sophomore threw a complete nine innings, notching nine total strikeouts, falling just two shy of her career-high.
Game 2: WKU 9, Samford 14
The nightcap of the twin bill between the Lady Toppers and Bulldogs proved to be a wild, back-and-forth affair as both teams displayed excellent hitting throughout.
Samford broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the fourth inning as the Bulldogs used two hits and two Lady Topper errors in order plate a total of four runs and jump ahead, 5-1.
Holloway struck once again in the home half of the second as the senior recorded her second home run on the day with a solo shot to left field. The homer was her team-leading tenth of the season and her 21st of her career.
WKU completed its rally attempt in the home half of the fourth as the Lady Toppers recorded their most successful offensive inning of the year, using six hits in order to plate seven runs as the home team surged ahead, 9-5.
The duo of Taylor Proctor and Rebekah Engelhardt shined in the inning as both players recorded a hit and had an RBI walk while Hannah Parker notched a 2-RBI double to right field. The double was the sophomore's fourth of the year.
Samford would rally, however, as the Bulldogs scored four runs over the next two innings in order to knot the score at 9 heading into the decisive seventh inning.
The Bulldogs completed their rally in the top of the seventh as Samford's bats exploded, tallying five runs on seven hits. The visitors also took advantage of another crucial Lady Topper error.
Unlike the opener, WKU didn't have an answer in the home half of the seventh as the Lady Toppers were retired in order as Samford (30-17) captured the sweep on the day with a 14-9 triumph.
Parker led the Lady Toppers at the plate, finishing 3-for-5 with two RBI. As a team WKU (12 hits, 9 runs) fell just one shy of matching their season bests in both categories.
WKU (16-24, 7-8 C-USA) continues its season Tuesday evening as the Lady Toppers are set to travel to Murray State for a twin bill with the Racers set for 4:30 p.m. CT.
