Early Lead Doesn't Hold as Hilltoppers Drop Finale to LA Tech

Sunday, April 28

Monroe, La.

Noon CT

Western Kentucky University

33-12, 15-6

Louisiana Tech

39-13, 17-4

WKU

LA Tech

Early Lead Doesn't Hold as Hilltoppers Drop Finale to LA Tech

4/28/2019 4:34:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 45WKU19

MONROE, La. – WKU Softball took its first lead of the series against Louisiana Tech Sunday in the top of the third inning after heads up base running by junior Morgan McElroy but a rally by the Lady Techsters resulted in a 7-1 win for the home team. The Hilltopper loss resulted in the squad's first time on the losing end of a series sweep on the year.

After playing six games across the last seven days – all away from home – the Hilltoppers went 3-3 on the week and now sit at 33-12 overall. WKU is now 15-6 in league play.

Louisiana Tech improved to 39-13 on the season and 17-4 in Conference USA action.

Scoreless into the third inning, Morgan McElroy led of the frame with a double down the leftfield line. Shannon Plese followed with a one-out walk. During Paige Carter's at bat, McElroy and Plese each advanced 60 feet on a passed ball. McElroy made the turn after the throw to third went into the outfield and scored easily for WKU's first lead of the series.

In the bottom of the frame, Kelsey Aikey and the defense returned the Lady Techsters to their dugout in order. Aikey faced just one batter over the minimum through three innings, registering five strikeouts in that span.

Louisiana Tech responded in the fourth, opening the frame with three-straight doubles before Shelby Nunn took over in the circle. The Lady Techsters plated two runs in the frame for the first of three-straight innings with a run on the board.

Rebekah Engelhardt, Taylor Davis and Kennedy Sullivan added base hits in the fifth and sixth innings. Kendall Smith also drew a walk in the sixth to load the bases with one out before being replaced on the base paths by Jordan Ridge. After a pitching change, Louisiana Tech worked out of the jam, leaving all three Hilltoppers stranded.

Down to its final out, Plese recorded WKU's fifth hit of the game and stole second, but would end up stranded.

Despite a solid outing in the circle, Aikey took the loss to move to 12-8 on the season. The junior struck out five batters in her 3.0+ frames of work, while allowing two runs on four hits and zero walks.

Nunn worked the final 3.0 innings, allowing five runs – three earned - on five hits with two strikeouts.

Next game: WKU will be back in action on Wednesday as Murray State will visit The Hill to close out the Hilltoppers' non-conference slate. First pitch from the WKU Softball Complex is slated for 5 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.