Game 1 Box Score (PDF) | Game 2 Box Score (PDF)
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — WKU Softball continued its current tear in Saturday afternoon's double header, as the Hilltopper squad scored eight unanswered runs to defeat IUPUI before getting the final say over Wright State in a one-run decision. Three different Hilltoppers knocked home runs on the day, including an Adarian Gray grand slam for the go-ahead runs over the Raiders.
"We were down in both of these games today, but we fought back and got the lead in each," opened head coach Amy Tudor. "Game two went back and forth a little bit, but I was proud of us every inning for how we stayed in the ballgame to give ourselves a chance to win both."
Winning, their last four games, the Hilltoppers have climbed to 9-4 on the 2017 campaign and 6-2 when at the WKU Softball Complex.
GAME 1: WKU 8, IUPUI 3
After a pair of scoreless innings by each dugout, both squads got on the board in the third inning. IUPUI plated three runners in the top of the frame to take a 3-0 lead but the Hilltoppers responded next time at the plate as a Kara Brewer single through the right side scored Brittany Vaughn to cut the deficit by one.
Kelsey Aikey and the WKU defense shut down IUPUI the rest of the way. Aikey would receive the run support she needed in the bottom of the fourth inning as the Red and White scored a season-high six runs in the frame. Vaughn started the rally reaching on a two-out error by the left fielder that ultimately put her in scoring position and brought Stowers around to score from first base. Jordan Mauch followed with a single that plated Vaughn and Taylor Proctor got on board on an error and Kara Brewer loaded the bases with a single through the left side. At that point, Adarian Gray stepped up to the plate and sent the second pitch she saw into the new parking structure for her first-career grand slam to give WKU a 7-3 it would not relinquish.
WKU added one more tally in the bottom of the fifth inning as Kelsey McGuffin led the inning off with a home run over the wall in left-center field. The shot was the fifth of McGuffin's career and first of the 2017 season.
Aikey went the distance in the win and improved to 2-1 in the circle on the season.
GAME 2: WKU 4, Wright State 3
In WKU's second game of the day's doubleheader, the Hilltoppers and Wright State would put up identical one-run innings for the opening three frames. The Hilltoppers blanked the Raiders in the top of the fourth inning and went on to score the eventual winning run when Brittany Vaughn avoided a tag and ended up on second base on a fielder's choice while scoring Haylee Towers from third base.
Vaughn also got the scoring starting for WKU in the bottom of the opening frame after reaching on a fielder's choice and eventually caught the Raiders on their heels by stealing home.
In the bottom of the second inning, Gray led off with a double to left-center field and advanced to third on a McGuffin sacrifice bunt. After a Morgan McElroy walk, Haylee Towers produced a sacrifice fly to score Gray from third to even the game at 2-2.
Jordan Mauch accounted for the Hilltoppers' third run, which came in the bottom of the third inning, on a lead-off home run. The knock was Mauch's third on the season.
Kathryn Downing produced another complete game for the Red and White as the senior picked up her sixth win on the season (6-0) in seven starts.
"Both Aikey and Downing threw complete games today," Tudor stated. "I felt like they were in control of their games for the most part and we put up run production offensively, which makes the pitcher's job a lot easier."
WKU will look for the weekend sweep on Sunday as the Hilltoppers will take on Austin Peay in the 3 p.m. CT contest from the WKU Softball Complex.
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Thursday - WKU def. Illinois State, 8-2
Friday @ WKU SOFTBALL COMPLEX
Illinois State def. Wright State, 3-0
Indiana State def. IUPUI, 15-8
WKU def. Indiana State, 8-0 (5)
@ BUCHANON PARK
Illinois State def. Austin Peay, 7-2
Austin Peay def. Wright State, 3-2
Saturday @ WKU SOFTBALL COMPLEX
Illinois State def. IUPUI, 10-1 (5)
WKU def. IUPUI, 8-3
WKU def. Wright State, 4-3
Indiana State def. Austin Peay, 17-5 (5)
@ BUCHANON PARK
Indiana State def. Wright State, 4-2
Sunday @ WKU SOFTBALL COMPLEX
10 am - Wright State vs. IUPUI |
12:30 pm - Austin Peay vs. IUPUI |
3 pm - Austin Peay at WKU | Livestats
All-day passes for this weekend's tournament games from Friday-Sunday can be purchased for $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger. All-day passes cover Buchanon Park games as well, fans just need to keep their ticket stubs. As always, the Hilltopper flexible season ticket packages are on sale for $25, which includes 25 admittances to WKU Softball games that can be used during the Hilltoppers' opening weekend on The Hill.
