Tops earn third straight C-USA series sweep with win over FAU
Published 7:08 am Monday, April 1, 2019
- Western Kentucky catcher Kendall Smith rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning against Florida Atlantic during the Hilltoppers' 10-2 win Sunday at the WKU Softball Complex. (WKU Athletics)
Four Hilltoppers recorded multi-hit days as Western Kentucky’s softball team swept its third straight Conference USA series with Sunday’s 10-2 six-inning series finale win over visiting Florida Atlantic.
WKU’s Jordan Thomas, Shannon Plese, Jordan Vorbrink and Paige Carter all tallied two-hit games while Kendall Smith and Carter each recorded multi-RBI outings in the Hilltoppers’ 11th straight win.
WKU (26-5 overall, 9-0 C-USA) is the only remaining unbeaten team in the league. Florida Atlantic dropped to 15-18 on the season and 3-6 after suffering the series sweep. The last time WKU swept FAU was during the 2013 campaign.
After Florida Atlantic scored in its opening trip to the plate, WKU answered in the bottom of the first. Thomas reached base after an errant throw by the Owls and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt by Rebekah Engelhardt. Two batters later, Smith connected for a two-run home run off the third level of the parking structure in left field to give the Hilltoppers a 2-1 lead.
Smith’s homer was her seventh of the season, matching Engelhardt for the team high.
Starting pitcher Shelby Nunn went back out for the second but after two walks, an error and an FAU hit, the Owls evened the game at 2.
Kelsey Aikey took over the in the top of the third and after a leadoff single to shallow left-center field would go on to retire the next seven Owl batters.
WKU gave Aikey all the run support she needed to pick up her sixth straight win as the Hilltoppers struck for five runs in the bottom of the third. WKU totaled three hits, three stolen bases and four walks in combination with a pair of FAU errors in the frame. Plese, Carter and Thomas accounted for the trio of Hilltopper hits.
Plese accounted for two of the Hilltoppers’ three stolen bases in the inning, including a swipe of home to make the score 4-2 in favor of WKU.
The Hilltoppers stranded a pair of Owls in the top of the sixth as Vorbrink gunned down an FAU runner at the plate for the final out.
In the bottom of the sixth, Maddie Bowlds and Thomas got the Hilltoppers going with back-to-back base hits for two of WKU’s four hits in the frame. Plese followed with a one-out single back up middle to load the bases. All three runners advanced a bag on a passed ball, giving WKU an 8-2 advantage as Thomas scored.
After Smith drew her third walk of the game, Kennedy Sullivan reached on an error that doubled as a sacrifice fly to score Engelhardt. One out later, Carter connected for her second run-rule walk-off hit of the season with a base hit to the left-center gap to score Smith.
Aikey tossed the day’s final four innings to earn the win while holding the Owls scoreless. Aikey improved to 8-3 (4-0 C-USA) on the season while allowing just two hits and three walks while striking out five.
WKU outhit Florida Atlantic 10-5.
WKU’s 11-game win streak dates back to its C-USA opener at FIU on March 16. The stretch surpasses the squad’s 10 straight wins achieved from Feb. 8 through March 8. Eleven games in the longest win streak during WKU coach Tudor’s tenure and is the best mark since WKU won 12 straight games during the 2013 campaign.
Taking a break from C-USA action, WKU will host Louisville for a midweek matchup Wednesday. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m. CT from the WKU Softball Complex and the game will be streamed live on CUSA.tv.