McGuffin Homers as Hilltoppers Drop Final Games from Kennesaw State

Saturday, March 9

Kennesaw, Ga.

11:30 a.m. CT

Western Kentucky University

15-3

Kennesaw State

12-11

WKU

Kennesaw State

McGuffin Homers as Hilltoppers Drop Final Games from Kennesaw State

3/9/2019 5:02:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game 1 Box Score Game 2 Box Score Kennesaw State Tournament Stats

KENNESAW, Ga. – WKU Softball suffered a pair of one-run setbacks on the second day of the Kennesaw State-hosted Bobbie Bailey Memorial Tournament. To open the day, the Hilltoppers suffered their first 2-1 loss to the host Owls (12-11) before taking a 2-1 setback to Wright State (8-11). The Red and White moved to 15-4 on the season with the losses.

Maddie Bowlds and Kendall Smith recorded four hits across the weekend tournament while Jordan Thomas and Shannon Plese each added three. On the bases, the Hilltoppers finished the tournament 13-for-14 in stolen base attempts led by Plese's 4-for-4 mark while Rebekah Engelhardt went 3-for-3.

GAME 1: KENNESAW STATE 2, WKU 1

A scoreless contest until the seventh inning, WKU struck first after Kelsey McGuffin struck for a leadoff solo home run – her first hit of the season. The longball came in McGuffin's first plate appearance of the weekend after checking in as a defensive replacement in left field.

With the Hilltoppers in need of three outs in the bottom of the seventh against host Kennesaw State, the Owls came out swinging and led off with a double down the left line. WKU took the out at first on a KSU sacrifice bunt that moved the Owls' runner to third. Kennedy Sullivan followed with her 11^th strikeout of the game for the second out and went ahead 0-2 on the next batter before Kennesaw State knotted things up on an infield single. The hosts followed with two more base hits to ultimately come from behind and claim the 2-1 victory.

Sullivan (10-1) took her first loss of the season in the decision. The freshman struck out 11 while allowing four walks and six hits. At the plate, Sullivan finished with another multi-hit outing after recording two of WKU's five hits in the contest.

Smith, Bowlds and McGuffin accounted for WKU's remaining three hits.

GAME 2: WRIGHT STATE 2, WKU 1

Engelhardt got the Hilltoppers into the hit column in the top of the second with a single. Leading off the next frame, Bowlds beat out a single and then moved into scoring position on a throwing error. The sophomore advanced to third on a groundout before scoring the game's first run on a wild pitch.

Morgan McElroy added a hit in the fifth inning after Engelhardt reached on an error. Both runners advanced into scoring position before they were left stranded. Plese reached base in the sixth on a hit by pitch but was the fourth Hilltopper runner to be stranded.

Bowlds added her second knock of the day in the top of the seventh in an attempt to keep the Hilltoppers alive but ended up stranded.

Kelsey Aikey got the nod for the start and went 5.2 innings with six strikeouts against just three walks and five hits. The junior took the loss in the decision and moved to 2-3 on the season.

Shelby Nunn relieved Aikey in the bottom of the sixth and closed the game for the Red and White.

NEXT GAME: WKU Softball will be back in action on Wednesday for its first midweek action with a tilt against Lipscomb from Nashville. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. CT.

How to Follow the Hilltoppers: For complete information on WKU Softball, follow the team on Twitter at @WKUSoftball, Instagram @WKU_Softball and Facebook /WKUSoftball.