Hilltoppers drop pair of 1-run games in Georgia

Published 6:01 pm Saturday, March 9, 2019

Western Kentucky’s softball team dropped a pair of one-run decisions on the second day of the Kennesaw State-hosted Bobbie Bailey Memorial Tournament on Saturday in Kennesaw, Ga.

To open the day, the Hilltoppers took their first 2-1 loss to the host Owls (12-11) before falling 2-1 to Wright State (8-11).

Maddie Bowlds and Kendall Smith recorded four hits for WKU (15-4) across the weekend tournament while Jordan Thomas and Shannon Plese each added three. On the bases, the Hilltoppers finished the tournament 13-for-14 in stolen base attempts led by Plese’s 4-for-4 mark while Rebekah Engelhardt went 3-for-3.

The Hilltoppers struck first against Kennesaw State after Kelsey McGuffin struck for a leadoff solo home run.

The Owls rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh to win.

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WKU’s Kennedy Sullivan (10-1) took her first loss of the season in the decision. The freshman struck out 11 while allowing six hits and four walks. At the plate, Sullivan finished with another multi-hit outing after recording two of WKU’s five hits in the contest.

Smith, Bowlds and McGuffin accounted for WKU’s remaining three hits.

In the second game, Bowlds beat out a single and then moved into scoring position on a throwing error in the top of the third. The sophomore advanced to third on a groundout before scoring the game’s first run on a wild pitch.

Wright State struck for two runs in the bottom of the sixth, then held WKU scoreless in the seventh.

The Hilltoppers’ Kelsey Aikey pitched 5 2/3 innings with six strikeouts against just five hits and three walks. The junior took the loss and moved to 2-3 on the season.

WKU will be back in action Wednesday for its first midweek action with a game against Lipscomb from Nashville. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m.