Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Western Kentucky
Lady Raiders Split with Western Kentucky
4/12/2003 8:49:00 PM | Softball
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee softball (18-15, 1-5 SBC) split a doubleheader 3-2, 3-6 against Sun Belt foe Western Kentucky (20-20, 1-1 SBC) Saturday at Lady Raider Field.
In the first game, with the score tied 2-2, second baseman Jennifer Dorais' RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning gave the Lady Raiders the lead 3-2. The Dorais single sent home Erica Buhl from second base, who got into scoring position by stealing second base earlier in the inning.
Middle Tennessee opened the game on a shaky note, as two Lady Raider errors plated a couple of Toppers in the first inning. The Lady Raiders pulled within one (2-1) on an RBI double by Kristina Hieb in the bottom of the second, which was the first double of the season for the third baseman. Pinch runner Megan Stapleton tied the game in the bottom of the fifth on a miscue by Western Kentucky.
Senior hurler Stayc Preator took over second place in the Lady Raider record books with her 66th career complete game. The El Cajon, California native allowed six hits, struck out five, walked one, and none of the Topper runs were credited to her.
In game two Middle Tennessee struck early in the first inning when Cortney Mitchell's sacrifice fly sent home Hieb, who reached on a double. Western Kentucky struck back in the fourth with three runs, as Shelly Floyd hit a two RBI homerun and then added one more run on a Lady Raider error.
Catcher Leah Grothause tied the game (3-3) in the bottom of the fourth on a two RBI double scoring Megan Cherinka and Stapleton. Western Kentucky's Renita Pennington's RBI single in the top of the fifth gave the lead back to the Toppers 4-3. The Toppers scored one more run in the top of the sixth when pinch runner Brandy Hawkins was awarded home plate on an interference call at third base.
Freshman Tiffany Childress got the start and left the game after 3.2 innings. Leora Brannon takes the loss as she gave up a run in the top of the fifth to give Western Kentucky the lead, and falls to 0-1 on the season. It was Brannon's first decision of the year.
The same two teams will meet again on Sunday in further Sun Belt Conference action. The first pitch is set for 1 p.m. at Lady Raider Field.
