CONTROL WITH SIX RUNS
IN THE FOURTH INNING.
HILLTOPPERS HAVE WON 11 OF THEIR LAST 13 GAMES; KENNESAW STATE COMES TO BOWLING GREEN LATER THIS WEEK
Western Kentucky’s Erica Hague made it happen in the circle, and her Hilltopper softball teammates erased an early one-run deficit to complete a three-game sweep against Conference USA opponent UTEP, 8-3, on a brisk Sunday afternoon at the WKU Softball Complex.
Western Kentucky improved to 33-10 overall and 15-6 in conference play. The Hilltoppers and Liberty are tied for second place in the C-USA standings, trailing only Jacksonville State (35-12, 19-2 in C-USA) by four games with just two three-game conference series before the league tournament at starting May 5 in Newark, Delaware.
The Hilltoppers have won five straight games and 11 of their last 13. They’ll play host to Kennesaw State in the final home C-USA series starting Friday. Kennesaw State is buried in last place in the league standings, with a 3-18 record in conference play.
The Owls are 7-36 overall.
TO THE RIGHT SIDE BEFORE RETIRING
UTEP’s M.J. NICHOLSON AT FIRST.
A THREE-RUN HOME RUN IN THE FOURTH …
FAILED TO SCORE AGAIN.
Western Kentucky trailed briefly, 3-2, after UTEP catcher Kenna Carranza unloaded a three-game home run to left-center field in the top of the fourth inning. WKU’s Erica Hogue had dominated the Miners until that inning, but they capitalized on a misplayed fly ball to open the inning and Illana Munoz’s touch single through the left side with one out.
Carrenza connected on a 2-2 pitch for a three-run shot into the parking garage beyond the left-field fence.
The Hilltoppers wasted little time erasing that one-run deficit in the bottom of the fourth.
WKU’s Morgan Slate brought in one run with a line-drive double into left-center field, and the Hilltoppers’ Lauren Satterly made it 5-3 with a two-run single through the right side. Pinch hitter Macy Gregor delivered an RBI single to right field and the Hilltoppers scored six runs before UTEP could retire the side
WENT ON TO COMPLETE THE THREE-GAME SWEEP.
A TWO-RUN SINGLE IN THE FOURTH INNING.
WKU right-hander Erica Hogue, a senior pitcher/utility player from Collins, Iowa, went five innings in tghe circle and improved to 19-3 on the season. WKU teammate Rylann Thomas worked the final two innings to complete the task at hand.
UTEP right-hander Hanna Jones (0-3) took the loss for the Miners.
THE SUNDAY AFTERNOON CROWD WHILE
THE WKU FIGHT SONG PLAYS OVER THE PA SYSTEM.
TO GO TO THE DOG PARK …