WKU Closes Trojan Classic with 3-0 Win Over North Florida

Sunday, February 9

Troy, Ala.

10 a.m. CT

Western Kentucky University

3-2

North Florida

2-1

Western Kentucky

North Florida

2/9/2020 1:52:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Game 5 Weekend Stats

TROY, Ala. – WKU Softball avenged its Saturday morning loss to North Florida with a 3-0 shutout win over the Ospreys in Sunday's rematch. Shelby Nunn (2-0) earned her second win in the circle while Kelsey Aikey collected her first save of the season as the duo allowed just three total hits. At the plate, the Hilltopper bats delivered eight hits as the Red and White closed the weekend with a 3-2 record.

"I am proud of our response and toughness today," head coach Amy Tudor shared. "We were at the ballpark for 12 hours yesterday and came out today with the same level of focus. We did some good things this weekend, which we will build upon. Also, we did some things that are focus points for us this week. Finally, we'd like to give a big shout out to our fans that made the trek."

In the second meeting with North Florida in as many days, Shelby Nunn drew the start and with the help of the WKU defense retired the first 10 UNF batters. The Ospreys would get their first runner on base in the bottom of the fourth but the Hilltoppers responded with a 6-4-3 double play to erase the runner and face the minimum through four frames.

With one out in the fifth, TJ Webster sent a double to left field before moving to third base on a Jordan Thomas single. From there, Maddie Bowlds delivered the perfect squeeze bunt allowing Webster to slide in safely and give the Tops what would ultimately be the winning run.

After recording the first two outs in the bottom of the fifth, WKU would commit a fielding error, which UNF followed up with a base hit before Nunn knocked down a liner and tossed to Bowlds at first to get the Red and White back to the dugout unscathed.

Paige Carter led off the top of the sixth with a base hit before Taylor Davis beat out a bunt for a single. Princess Valencia stepped into the box and executed a sacrifice bunt, moving both runners into scoring position. With two away, Morgan McElroy sent her second double of the season to left-center field, bringing home both WKU runners for a 3-0 advantage.

Aikey would take over in the circle for the final two innings and allowed just one hit – a bunt single – as the Tops retired all six other batters to secure the 3-0 victory.

Nunn exited with a line of 5.0 innings pitched, two hits allowed, two strikeouts and zero walks while in line for her second win of the weekend. Aikey completed the shutout as WKU held its first opponent scoreless on the season. The senior pitcher's save was the 13^th of her career as she continues to add to the school record she owns.

Kennedy Sullivan registered a multi-hit outing with a 2-for-4 day at the plate while six other Hilltoppers each contributed a hit.

Next game: With opening weekend in the books, WKU Softball will be back in action from Friday-Sunday, Feb. 14-16 at the Chatt Challenge in Chattanooga, Tenn. The Red and White are scheduled to play five games across the three-day event.

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