Davis Delivers 8-Hit Day as Tops Win Two

Friday, February 28

Bowling Green, Ky.

3 p.m. CT

Western Kentucky University

12-4

IUPUI

3-9

IUPUI

WKU

2/28/2020 9:45:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Game 16 Game 17

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Taylor Davis delivered a perfect 8-for-8 day at the plate as WKU Softball went on to win twice on the opening day of the Hilltopper Spring Fling. The Red and White downed IUPUI 7-0 to get the day started before notching their fourth come-from-behind win of the season in an 8-4 victory over Austin Peay.

"Our offense and defense were spot on today," WKU head coach Amy Tudor said. "We made adjustments at the plate throughout both games which proved to increase our run production. Davis had a perfect day at the plate while others produced in different ways throughout our lineup. Nunn and Sullivan both threw well for us in the circle today."

Davis tallied eight of WKU's 21 hits on the day while Kendall Smith racked up 6 of the Tops' 14 RBI across the wins. Paige Carter connected for two home runs while Kennedy Sullivan and Smith each recorded one as well.

GAME 16: WKU 7, IUPUI 0

Shelby Nunn tossed her first complete-game shutout of the season in WKU's 7-0 win over IUPUI to open play in the Hilltopper Spring Fling. The junior struck out four while allowing five hits in the Tops' sixth shutout of the season.

Kendall Smith delivered at least one RBI in all three of her at bats to finish with four on the game. She connected for a sacrifice fly, two-run home run and then a fielder's choice. Smith's homer was the first of back-to-back shots by the Hilltoppers as Paige Carter followed suit.

Smith and Carter also went back-to-back – in reverse order – during WKU's victory against Ohio in the Chatt Challenge.

Taylor Davis registered a four-hit game, going 4-for-4 at the plate while scoring two runs and driving in another.

GAME 17: WKU 8, AUSTIN PEAY 4

After scoring first for the second-consecutive game, WKU Softball found itself looking at a 3-1 deficit entering the bottom of the third inning. Davis would get things going with a one-out single before touching the plate on a two-run home run from Sullivan to knot the score at 3-3.

Austin Peay struck back one more time in the top of the fourth with an RBI double following a walk to take a 4-3 lead.

That margin would hold until WKU came to the plate in the bottom of the fifth when the Tops sent 10 batters to the plate and regain the lead for good. Jordan Thomas led off the frame with a base hit and moved to second on another single from Davis. Both moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from Sullivan before Smith reached on an error while driving home a run to tie the game at 4-4. In the box next, Paige Carter sent a no-doubter off the second level of the parking structure for a 7-4 WKU lead and her second extra-base knock of the game.

WKU would add its final run in the bottom of the sixth after Davis reached base with a single for the eighth time of the day. Sullivan would take a hit by pitch before Smith stepped into the box and sent an RBI-single to the left-center gap bringing Davis around to score.

Sullivan earned the win in the circle with 4.1 innings of relief work and is now 2-1 on the season. The sophomore struck out 10 batters for her third-straight appearance of such.

Davis' back-to-back four-hit games brings her season total to three games of such. She now owns seven multi-hit showings on the season.

WKU's Friday night win over the Govs snapped a three-game skid to APSU.

NEXT GAME:

WKU Softball will close Hilltopper Spring Fling round robin play with Saturday's 12:30 p.m. tilt against Illinois State. The winning of that game will play immediately after in the 1 vs. 4 contest while the loser will earn the No. 2 seed and will play in the 5:30 p.m. game.

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