Aikey's Nine-Inning Gem, Late Offensive Surge Leads Tops to 30th Win

Wednesday, April 17

Cookeville, Tenn.

4 p.m. CT

Western Kentucky University

30-9, 0

Tennessee Tech

18-21, 0

WKU

Tennessee Tech

Photo by: Tennessee Tech Athletics

Aikey's Nine-Inning Gem, Late Offensive Surge Leads Tops to 30th Win

4/17/2019 8:37:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Kelsey Aikey took a no-hitter into the bottom of the ninth inning in Wednesday's midweek tilt at Tennessee Tech with a career-high 13 strikeouts in the complete-game 4-1 win by the Hilltoppers. Scoreless until the ninth inning, WKU sent the top of the order to the plate and brought four runs around to score for all the support Aikey would need as the Red and White hit the 30-win mark on the season.

"Kelsey Aikey was fantastic for us today," head coach Amy Tudor opened. "Her performance kept us in this game. Additionally, I'm really proud of our defense today; this was a good road win."

Aikey's complete-game, two-hit outing was the longest appearance of her career, surpassing an eight-inning no-hitter during her sophomore campaign. She now owns four complete-game showings this season and 16 in her career as she improved to 10-6 in the circle this season. The junior righty finished with a line of nine innings pitched, two hits, one run, four walks and 13 strikeouts.

To open the game, Aikey struck out the first five batters she faced before getting help from her defense to face the minimum through three frames. Her perfect game bid ended with a walk in the top of the fourth but it wouldn't be until the bottom of the eighth that Tennessee Tech would get a runner into scoring position. The defense responded with a 5-3-6 double play to end the inning as Rebekah Engelhardt fielded a grounder and delayed the runner at second before firing to Maddie Bowlds at first for the force who in turn fired to Morgan McElroy covering third to tag out the Golden Eagle runner.

WKU carried that momentum into the top of the ninth when Jordan Thomas reached base for the third time of the game, drawing a walk after a pair of hits earlier in the day. Three pitches later, Paige Carter delivered a two-run home run to end the shutout. The longball was her third of the season and second in the last four games.

"I felt like Jordan Thomas had another great game at the plate for us and set the tone with a leadoff double and then had a huge leadoff walk in the top of the ninth," add Tudor. "Then, Paige Carter delivered a huge hit when we needed it with a home run on a 1-2 count."

Still not done, the Hilltoppers kept things rolling as Kendall Smith reached on a throwing error before Shannon Plese sent a triple to the right-center gap to give WKU a 3-0 lead. With Plese 60 feet from home, Jordan Vorbrink stepped into the box and dropped a squeeze bunt between the pitcher and third baseman to bring her teammate home for a 4-0 advantage.

Tennessee Tech's leadoff batter in the bottom of the ninth ended Aikey's no-hit bid before the Hilltopper pitcher punched out her 12^th and 13^th Golden Eagles of the day. TTU struck again for another single before a couple walks would allowed the hosts on the scoreboard before Aikey handled a chopper and tossed to Bowlds for the final out.

The Hilltopper defense was flawless for the third-straight game. Smith finished with 11 putouts and four assists along with a runner caught stealing while Bowlds had 10 putouts of her own. Engelhardt added five assists from the hot corner as well.

WKU finished with six hits on the day led by Thomas' 11^th multi-hit game of the season. Carter, Plese, Vorbrink and Engelhardt all contributed one of their own.

WKU is now 30-9 overall on the season, marking the fourth 30-win campaign Tudor has led the Hilltopper squad to during her tenure. Tennessee Tech dropped to 18-21 with the midweek loss at the Tech Softball Field.

Next game: With a quick turnaround, the team will head to Murfreesboro for a Friday and Saturday series against the Blue Raiders. Middle Tennessee currently sits in second in the C-USA East Division behind the Hilltoppers.

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