Tops Drop Saturday Decisions at Hilltopper Classic

Saturday, February 22

Bowling Green, Ky.

12:30 p.m. CT

Western Kentucky University

10-3

Ball State

8-5

Ball State

WKU

2/22/2020 11:11:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game 13 Game 14

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – For the first time during the 2020 campaign, WKU Softball dropped back-to-back games. The Tops' comeback bid fell short in a 6-5 loss to Ball State and 7-5 setback to Indiana State on day two of the Hilltopper Classic.

WKU (10-4) will look to get back on track in Sunday's finale as the Red and White will face off against Green Bay (3-11) in the 11 a.m. CT consolation game. Ball State (9-5) and Indiana State (5-8) will meet in the championship contest slated for 1:30 p.m.

GAME 13: BALL STATE 6, WKU 5 – 8 INNINGS
Jordan Thomas reached base for the first of three times with a single to lead off the day's opening game and would move into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from Taylor Davis but would end up stranded.

After Ball State took the lead in the top of the second on a couple of two-out unearned runs and pushed its advantage to 4-0 with a two-run home run, the WKU offense would respond.

In the bottom of the fourth, WKU would pull back within one at 4-3 as the Hilltoppers would bat through the order. Kennedy Sullivan led the inning off with a solo home run before Kendall Smith drew a walk. Two batters later, Morgan McElroy, Princess Valencia and Maddie Bowlds (RBI) would reel off three-straight singles. After a fielder's choice, Thomas drew a bases-loaded walk to bring the Hilltoppers within one.

Ball State's fifth hitter in the lineup would lead off the sixth with a solo home run to push the Cardinals' lead back to two.

WKU kept the game alive in the bottom of the seventh by plating a pair of runs. Davis led things off with a single before Sullivan drew her second walk of the game. Smith would move both runners with a sacrifice bunt before Paige Carter delivered an RBI single to left field to make the score 5-4. McElroy followed with a knock back at the pitcher that resulted in an error and a run by the Tops to knot the game at 5-5.

BSU's first hitter in the top of the eighth - their five hole again – gave the Cardinals the eventual winning run in the form of a solo home run to right field.

The Hilltoppers put up a fight in the bottom of the eighth, as Thomas and Davis drew one-out walks before a double play ended WKU's comeback bid.

Kelsey Aikey started the game and worked 2.0+ innings and would take a no decision as Nunn took the loss to move to 4-1 on the season in the circle. The loss is the first by Nunn since her freshman season after going 7-0 in the circle a year ago. Both pitchers would strike out a pair.

GAME 14: INDIANA STATE 7, WKU 5

WKU struck first against Indiana State, taking advantage of a pair of first-inning errors from the Sycamores for a 2-0 lead. Thomas connected for her first of two hits in the game to get things going. The Hilltoppers added two more runs in the bottom of the third as Thomas opened the frame with her second base hit. Sullivan would record her first of three hits two batters later before McElroy delivered an RBI single. Kendall Smith followed with a double for the fourth hit of the frame.

From there, Indiana State would score in each of the final four frames for a total of seven runs spanning three WKU pitchers.

Trailing 7-4 entering the bottom of the seventh, WKU put up a fight, sending seven batters to the plate. Sullivan and Carter opened the frame with base hits before Valencia drew a two-out walk. Bowlds stepped into the box and legged out an infield single that allowed Carter to score and brings the Tops within two before Indiana State registered the final out.

Sullivan drew the start in the circle and racked up 10 strikeouts across 4.2 innings of work, allowing four runs – three earned. Aikey would take the loss in the circle, working 1.0 frames and allowing one run and striking out two. Nunn would close the final 1.1 innings of work with two runs – zero earned – one walk and three strikeouts.

Sullivan recorded a 3-for-4 game at the plate while Thomas and Smith would each finish 2-for-4.

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