Tops Wrap Up 5-0 Weekend in Chattanooga with Shutout of BGSU

Sunday, February 16

Chattanooga, Tenn.

9 a.m. CT

Western Kentucky University

8-2

Bowling Green

2-3

WKU

Bowling Green

Tops Wrap Up 5-0 Weekend in Chattanooga with Shutout of BGSU

2/16/2020 1:38:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Game 10 Chatt Challenge Stats

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – WKU Softball wrapped up a perfect 5-0 weekend at the Chattanooga Challenge with a 2-0 victory over Bowling Green on Sunday morning. Shelby Nunn (3-0) dealt five innings of two-hit ball before Kelsey Aikey (4-1) closed out the Hilltoppers' seventh-straight win with her second save of the season. The Red and White are now 8-2 on the young season and will play their next 14 games on The Hill.

"I am extremely proud of our all-out effort this weekend," shared WKU head coach Amy Tudor. "I felt we executed a balanced attack at the plate, in the circle and in the field. Our energy and focus stayed consistent and we look forward to getting back to work this week."

Bowling Green's first batter of the day dropped a single into left field but the Falcons' next 12 batters would be retired in order as Nunn got help from her defense with five grounders and seven flyouts across that span.

In the top of the fourth, WKU would get all the offense it needed for the win with a pair of timely hits. With one away and the top of the lineup due up, Jordan Thomas doubled off the left field fence and moved to third on a groundout. From there, Kennedy Sullivan sent an RBI-base hit past a diving BGSU shortstop to plate her teammate. The knock was Sullivan's second in as many innings as the sophomore also notched a double in the top of the third.

The Falcons looked to respond in the bottom of the fifth, drawing a walk to lead off the frame. The next at bat would result in two outs for the Tops as Kendall Smith would fire to Morgan McElroy covering first base for the sacrifice bunt before the second baseman sent the ball to TJ Webster covering second who tagged the runner that overran the bag. BGSU followed with a harmless single – its second and final hit of the day – before Nunn induced a flyout to centerfield.

Webster would lead off the sixth with a base hit before moving first to third on a sacrifice bunt from Taylor Davis. Sullivan would draw a walk to reach base for the third time of the game before Webster would get caught in a pickle.

Aikey would take over for Nunn in the circle in the bottom of the frame, punching out a pair and inducing a flyout that Paige Carter would glove in foul territory.

In the Hilltoppers' final trip to the plate, the squad added an unearned insurance run. Smith registered a one-out single before a fielder's choice and walk put two runners on base for WKU. Pinch hitting, Princess Valencia would reach on an error that allowed McElroy to score from second and give the Red and White the final 2-0 margin.

Back out on the dirt, Jordan Thomas gloved a deep flyball in centerfield for the first out before BGSU gained its final baserunner via a walk. Aikey would respond with a called punchout before Carli Crowder would handle a grounder at third for the final out.

Sullivan's two-hit day was her fifth multi-hit game of the season. As a team, WKU out-hit Bowling Green 7-2 in the contest.

Nunn earned her third win of the season in the circle. The junior finished with a line of 5.0 innings, two hits, zero runs and one walk as she combined with Aikey for their second shutout of the season. Aikey would close the final two frames allowing zero hits, one walk and registering three strikeouts.

Nunn is now 10-0 in pitching decisions since the beginning of her sophomore year and 25-15 on her career. Aikey's save was the 14^th of her career, which is tied for third among all active NCAA Division I pitchers.

Next game: With its first two tournaments of the season in the books, WKU Softball returns home to The Hill for its next 14 games spanning three weeks. The Red and White will welcome Green Bay, Indiana State and Ball State to the WKU Softball Complex for the Hilltopper Classic Friday-Sunday.

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