Sullivan, Aikey Shine in Tops' Two-Win Day

Friday, February 21

Bowling Green, Ky.

3 p.m. CT

Western Kentucky University

9-2

Green Bay

3-9

Green Bay

WKU

2/21/2020 9:35:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game 11 Game 12

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – WKU Softball picked up two more wins on the opening day of the Hilltopper Classic, earning victories over Green Bay and Indiana State on Friday. In the day's opening game, Kennedy Sullivan connected for the Hilltoppers' first grand slam of the season while driving in 5 RBI in the 7-6 win. The nightcap saw Kelsey Aikey strike out 10 while notching the 400^th punchout of her career.

"I'm glad we were able to come away with two wins today," head coach Amy Tudor said. "Kennedy Sullivan, Shelby Nunn and Kelsey Aikey were all sharp in the circle. At the plate, Taylor Davis, Sullivan and Jordan Thomas all had big days. I'm proud of our in-game adjustments and our ability to utilize our speed today."

WKU Softball is now 10-2 on the season and owns a nine-game win streak. The Red and White downed Green Bay (3-9) and Indiana State (3-8) while combing for 18 hits and 11 runs on offense across the wins.

GAME 11: WKU 7, GREEN BAY 6
WKU Softball claimed its third come-from-behind victory of the young season in Friday afternoon in a 7-6 win over Green Bay. With their first hit of the day – a two-run home run – the Phoenix opened up a 2-0 lead on the Hilltoppers before Kennedy Sullivan would add her third and fourth strikeouts to get WKU back in the dugout for the bottom of the second inning.

Green Bay led until the bottom of the third when WKU would send seven batters to the plate. Carli Crowder led things off by reaching on an error before a fielder's choice saw TJ Webster take her place on base. Rolling over to the top of the order, Jordan Thomas drew a walk before Taylor Davis delivered one of her four singles in the game to load the bases. Stepping into the box with two away, Sullivan cranked the first pitch she saw to centerfield for the first grand slam of her career and a 4-2 Hilltopper lead.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Tops added two more runs in a frame that saw four singles by the Red and White in addition to a sacrifice fly from Paige Carter. Sullivan connected for the third knock of the inning, driving in her fifth RBI of the game.

Green Bay responded in the top of the sixth to knot the contest at 6-6 while sending eight batters to the box. Shelby Nunn would relieve Katie Gardner in the circle and register a call strikeout against the first Phoenix batter she faced before inducing a groundout to get the Red and White back on offense.

From the 8-hole, Maddie Bowlds struck for her first hit of the day beating out an infield single to lead off the bottom of the sixth. After stealing second and moving to third on a groundout, Bowlds would touch the plate for the deciding run on a Taylor Davis single back up the middle.

Green Bay's leadoff batter in the top of the seventh would reach on a throwing error and moved her way around to third base while Webster handled three-straight groundouts at shortstop to strand the tying run on base.

Nunn earned the win in the circle, moving to 4-0 on the season after 1.2 innings of no-hit relief work. She would finish with one strikeout and no walks.

Sullivan took a no decision, working 5.0 innings while allowing 2 runs on one hit, two walks and striking out 10.

Davis went 4-for-4 at the plate while Sullivan added a 2-for-4 multi-hit game to go along with 5 RBI and WKU's first grand slam of the season.

WKU out-hit Green Bay 10-3 in the win.

GAME 12: WKU 4, INDIANA STATE 0

Aikey would carry a no-hit bid deep into Friday's second contest. The senior's lone walk went to Indiana State's leadoff batter in the top of the third inning before the senior struck out the side for career strikeouts 398, 399 and 400. WKU's defense and Aikey would work to retire the next 11 batters in order following the walk before the Sycamores' leadoff batter beat out an infield single to break into the hit column. The final four batters would sit down in order including Aikey's 10^th strikeout which she dealt to the final batter of the game.

WKU's scoring came across three innings, beginning in the bottom of the third. Thomas sent a triple to the left field wall to get the frame going before Davis reached on a bunt single. After Sullivan drew a walk to load the bases, Carter would reach on an error by the pitcher than allowed all three runners to advance 60 feet. From there, Smith plated Davis on a sacrifice fly to center field for a 2-0 WKU advantage.

Sullivan drew a leadoff walk in the fifth inning before Carter (single) and Smith (fielder's choice) would put runners on first and third for Morgan McElroy who would register a sacrifice fly that pushed the Tops' lead to a 3-0 tally.

Maggie Trgo led off the bottom of the sixth with a pinch hit single before stealing second. Webster beat out a bunt single before a throwing error allowed Trgo to come around and score for the final 4-0 margin.

Thomas finished a homerun shy of the cycle at the plate with a 3-for-4 showing. Carter, Smith and McElroy all registered RBI in the win.

Aikey would earn the complete-game shutout win in the circle, moving to 5-1 on the season. Her 10 punchouts were the second double-digit strikeout showing of the season. Aikey would finish with the fifth one-hitter of her career and 20^th game with seven or more strikeouts.

Next game: WKU will be back in action on Saturday with two more games from the WKU Softball Complex. The Tops will close out round robin play with a 12:30 p.m. tilt against Ball State before playing in either the 3 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. bracket-play games.

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