Photo Courtesy of Western Kentucky Athletics
MURRAY, Ky.—The Western Kentucky University softball team (20-10-1) was able to hold off Murray State’s (15-14) momentum late in the game to take a 3-2 win in eight innings on Wednesday at Racer Field.
Senior Emily Rousseau (11-7) didn’t give up her first hit of the contest until the fourth inning, as she finished the day with five hits allowed. Rousseau also ended her consecutive scoreless inning streak at 25.1, which ranks second in WKU’s career records. Both of the Racers’ runs were earned while Rousseau walked one and struck out eight batters.
Mason Robinson (6-5) took the loss for Murray State after pitching the final three innings with one run given up on three hits while striking out four. CheyAnne Gaskey started the game, allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits with one walk and six strikeouts in five innings of work.
Junior Shawna Sadler and senior Kelsie Mattox led WKU at the plate with two hits each, including Mattox hitting her eighth double of the season.
WKU took to the scoreboard first, leading 1-0 after the top second. Sophomore Bethany Oglesby earned a hit before advancing to second on a bad throw from Maggie Glass at third with two outs. Junior Jacqueline McGill then hit a RBI double off the left field wall to add the lone run. WKU repeated the action in the next inning, as Mattox hit a RBI double down the left field line to score junior Preslie Cruce from second for a 2-0 lead.
Murray State would be held scoreless until the bottom sixth when the Racers tied it at 2 runs each. Glass opened the frame with a single up the middle before Shelbey Miller hit a RBI double to left center for the first run. A sacrifice bunt moved Miller to third, as she would score on a groundout by Cayla Levins in the next at-bat.
Neither team would find anything in the seventh to force an extra inning, as senior Olivia Watkins would get things going for WKU with an infield single and stolen base. Sadler then followed with a single to move Watkins to third. Mattox notched her second RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to center for the winning run.
WKU stays on the road for its next contest, as the Lady Toppers travel to UT Arlington for a three-game Sun Belt Conference series starting on Saturday, March 29 with a doubleheader and concluding on Sunday, March 30 with a single game.
