"We set the tone early today and were able to shut the door in another run-rule victory," head coach Amy Tudor shared. "Having production from the top to bottom of our lineup even with kids playing while under the weather shows our grit, which really makes me proud as a coach."
In the circle, WKU's pitching staff allowed just one run and nine total hits on the day. From the batter's box, the Hilltoppers connected for 14 collective hits including four multi-hit games with two from freshman Maddie Bowlds.
GAME 11: WKU 10, GREEN BAY 0 (5)
Back-to-back triples by Paige Carter and Brittany Vaughn to open the second inning were enough for Friday's first win but the Hilltopper lineup continued to pile on the offense to secure the squad's fifth run-rule victory of the season. Morgan McElroy would end up bringing Vaughn home for the 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second.
From there, the Red and White tacked on four more tallies in each the bottom of the third and fourth innings. Carter sent a two-RBI single to left-center field to double WKU's lead before Vaughn knocked an RBI single and ultimately scored on the same play after a Phoenix throwing error. The Hilltoppers put the finishing touches on the final 10-0 margin of victory in the bottom of the fourth by plating four runs on two hits after drawing four walks in the frame.
Batting clean-up, Carter finished the contest matching her season-high with three RBI while going 2-for-2 with a walk and a run. In the next lineup spot, Vaughn turned in a 3-for-3 game at the plate, her second-consecutive outing with three hits. Vaughn added three RBI of her own while scoring twice herself. Bowlds added WKU's third multi-hit showing with a 2-for-2 showing.
Haylee Towers picked up her first decision of the season with the win after throwing four scoreless innings while allowing just three hits. Kelsey Aikey closed things out in the top of the fifth, facing the minimum.
GAME 12: TOLEDO 1, WKU 0
WKU Softball's second game of the day ended in a 1-0 narrow victory at the hands of Toledo. The Rockets scored their lone run in the top of the third inning after a leadoff double and sacrifice bunt put the decisive run on third to ultimately score on an infield single.
Bowlds recorded her second multi-hit game of the day with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate and now has four on her debut season.
Shelby Nunn tossed her fifth complete game of the season while moving to 5-3 with the loss. The freshman struck out a pair while giving up zero free bases.
"I thought today was a great day for our pitching staff," Tudor continued. "We executed our pitches and had a great presence on the mound. Shelby took a tough loss in the circle but threw well enough to win. I am confident we will make adjustments at the plate tomorrow and get back on track."
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday – 9 a.m. CT – Indiana State def. Green Bay - 1-0
11 a.m. CT – Indiana State def. Toledo - 7-2
1 p.m. CT – WKU def. Green Bay - 10-0 (5)
3 p.m. CT – Toledo def. WKU - 1-0
Saturday – 10 a.m. CT – Green Bay vs. Toledo
12:30 p.m. CT – WKU vs. Indiana State
3 p.m. CT – 1 vs. 4
5:30 p.m. CT – 2 vs. 3
Sunday – 11 a.m. CT – Consolation
1:30 p.m. CT – Championship
Any schedule changes will be communicated through the WKU Softball Twitter, Facebook and web platforms.
TOPPER NOTES:
- Freshman Maddie Bowlds registered two multi-hit performances on the day – both two-hit showings. She now has four multi-hit games on the season after a three-hit day at the Chattanooga Challenge and a four-hit tilt opening weekend.
- WKU's 1-0 loss to Toledo was the first time the Hilltoppers had been shut out all season.
- The Hilltoppers are now 4-1 in home openers under head coach Amy Tudor and 12-7 overall in openers. WKU's 10-0 (5) win matches the program's largest home-opening margin of victory set in 2004 against Southeast Missouri.
- With its 10-0 win over Green Bay, WKU Softball collected its fifth run-rule victory of the 2018 season.
- WKU has used 10 different starting lineups across its 12 games so far this season.
- Combing for seven triples through 12 games in 2018, WKU Softball's mark already ranks as the 13th-most on a season by any Hilltopper squad in program history. The single-season team record is 18, set by the 2013 team.
