More on the trailblazing life of the legendary coach can be found HERE.
WKU head coach Amy Tudor on Coach Joyce: "We are saddened by the loss of Coach Joan Joyce. It was an honor and a pleasure to coach against her and to talk softball with her. We send our deepest sympathies and prayers to her family, the FAU softball team and coaches."
Like the Owls had done in both previous games, they scored in their first trip to the plate. FAU tallied all three of its runs in the bottom of the first after taking advantage of a pair of Hilltopper miscues.
WKU's first two hits came in the first and second innings as Brylee Hage connected for a triple and Randi Drinnon delivered a double, respectively. Both runners would end up stranded.
From there, WKU wouldn't record another hit until the top of the sixth inning when Taylor Davis sent a single back up the middle to end a stretch of 11-straight retired Hilltoppers. The leftfielder would then steal her way into scoring position and move to third when Brylee Hage ripped a double to centerfield. With runners on the corners and two outs, Bailey Curry delivered a timely double to plate both Hilltoppers to put the score at 3-2.
WKU would move to 22-7 on the season with the loss and is now 6-3 in Conference USA play. Florida Atlantic is now 18-17 overall and tied with the Hilltoppers at 6-3 in league action.
Shelby Nunn would take the loss in the circle and move to 13-5 on the year. The righty worked 3.1 innings allowing three hits and three runs (two earned) while walking one batter. Katie Gardner would take over and pitch the final 2.2 innings in relief. She allowed just one hit while striking out three Owls.
Hage finished with a 2-for-3 outing at the plate for her 10th multi-hit effort of the season. Curry's multi-RBI showing was also her 10th performance of such.
TOP STORYLINES
- WKU is now 23-27 all-time against Florida Atlantic and 7-13 when playing at the FAU Softball Complex.
- Coach Tudor is in her 18th season as a head coach – ninth on The Hill – and owns a 473-370-2 career coaching record.
- WKU is now 8-2 in one-run decisions on the season.
- Brylee Hage connected for two hits for her 10th multi-hit outing of the season.
