Softball Drops Two to Western Kentucky

Saturday, April 9

Murfreesboro, Tenn.

1:00 PM

Middle Tennessee

Western Kentucky

4/9/2005 7:11:00 PM | Softball

By: MT Media Relations

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee softball's (6-23, 0-2 SBC) Sun Belt opener against Western Kentucky (19-12, 2-0 SBC) was bittersweet as the Blue Raiders lost by one run in both games, 1-0, 4-3, Saturday at Blue Raider Field.

Junior Jennifer Dorais started the first game and had arguably her best outing of the season one the mound. She tossed seven scoreless innings and forced extra innings with the Toppers.

Western Kentucky got the break in the game in the top of the eighth inning when Jen Ballance led off the inning with a double. Ballance advanced to third when Renita Pennington singled. The Toppers scored the only run of the game when Ballance scored off a wild pitch to give Western Kentucky the first game 1-0.

Dorais' tossed her second consecutive complete game, allowing the lone run on seven hits. She falls to 0-5 on the season. Twice Middle Tennessee could have helped Dorais' cause as they team had runners on second base but failed to push a run across the plate.

In the second game, sophomore Trish White got the call to enter the pitching circle. White started off to a rocky, as she allowed two runs in the first inning off three hits. Western Kentucky added one run in the top of the second to lead 3-0.

Middle Tennessee got on the scoreboard for the first time in the second inning. Christi Benton and Kayla Sparks led off the inning with back-to-back singles to set up a scoring opportunity. Senior Jennifer Grybash didn't disappoint as she hit a two RBI double to pull the Blue Raiders within one 3-2.

Sparks struck again in the fifth inning as she led off with a single. A sacrifice bunt by Grybash placed Sparks on second and White helped her cause with an RBI single to tie the game 3-3.

Western Kentucky knocked in the winning run in the top of the sixth when pinch runner Renikka Tollier scored from an RBI single by Shelby Smith.

White and Sparks each had two hits in the game and Sparks also scored two of the Blue Raider Runs. Grybash went 1-for-3 with two RBI. White falls to 0-2 on the year.

Middle Tennessee completes its Sun Belt series with Western Kentucky on Sunday at Blue Raider Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.