Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Middle Tennessee
Western Kentucky
Lady Raiders Sweep Western Kentucky in Sun Belt Opener
4/9/2004 7:34:00 PM | Softball
After eight scoreless innings, Middle Tennessee senior Cortney Mitchell broke the scoring drought in the first game with a solo shot over the right field wall to give the Lady Raiders the first run of the game. After back-to-back singles by Brittany Herald and Leah Grothause, designated player Angie Huebner gave Middle Tennessee the needed insurance with a three-run bomb over the left centerfield wall.
Western Kentucky struck back in the bottom of the ninth and after hurler Crystal Bobo gave up a double and single, she was pulled and Trish White was called to the mound. White forced Hilltopper Riley Garcia to ground out to first base for the first out, and survived a hot shot by Sam Hansen, in which the ball hit her in the stomach, but she still had the presence to pick up the ball and throw her out.
White didn't survive Jessie Richardson, however, as she hit a three-run blast over the centerfield wall to pull Western Kentucky within one run. After allowing Shelly Floyd on base with a single, White was replaced by Bobo. Western Kentucky placed runners on first and second when Bobo gave up a single to Bailey Rolfs, but ended the Hilltopper threat when she forced Natasha Sevco to pop up to third baseman Kristina Hieb.
Bobo picked up the win and improves to 9-8 on the year as she went 8.1 innings allowing two runs on four hits and striking out six.
Middle Tennessee jumped on the board early in the second game putting together two runs in the first and second innings. Mitchell starting things off with a single and after stealing second she was sent home off an RBI single by Herald. Huebner picked up the second run with an RBI single which plated Herald.
In the second inning centerfielder Michelle Wilkes started the inning by drawing a walk and after a single by Katie Tompkins that advanced Wilkes to third, she scored off an RBI single by Muriel Ledbetter. The Lady Raiders got their second run of the inning when Herald knocked in her second RBI of the game.
Middle Tennessee added a run in the top of the sixth when Herald hit a bloop single in shallow centerfield with the bases loaded that sent home Tompkins. With just one out, and the bases loaded, it appeared the Lady Raiders were threatening to add more runs to the scoreboard, but Grouthause hit into a double play to end the inning.
Western Kentucky put together two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, and threatened to add more with the bases loaded and two outs, but pinch runner Renikka Toliver was tagged out by Melissa Weiland to end the inning. The Hilltoppers picked up their two runs off a two run blast by Shelly Floyd.
Freshman hurler picked up the win in the second game and improved to 4-0. Ledbetter came in and picked up her first save of the year.
Middle Tennessee completes its four-game series with Western Kentucky on Saturday. First pitch action is set for 1 p.m.
