By Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Western Kentucky peppered the Tennessee Tech defense for 17 hits on Wednesday night as the host Hilltoppers topped the Golden Eagles 11-3.
It was the final non-conference contest for Tech (18-25). The Golden Eagles return to action on Saturday as they travel to Nashville to take on Belmont, starting with a twinbill at 1 p.m.
Tech was held to just three hits in the contest as Beth McCulley, Shelby Penning and Nicole Nysted each collected a safety. Two of the three hits came in the fourth inning as McCulley hit a one-out double to left center. Raleigh Lewis drew a walk, then Penning reached on a fielder's choice as McCulley was erased at third on a 6-5 putout. Nysted, pinch hitting for Carmen Betts, took the first pitch for a ball, then drilled the next over the outfield fence for a home run, her eighth of the season. The blast knotted the game at three runs each.
It escalated from there as the Hilltoppers scored two runs in the fourth, three runs in the fifth and three runs in the sixth to enact the run rule.
Brylee Hage led WKU with a 4-for-4 night at the plate with four RBI, while Paige Carter (3-for-3) and Kennedy Sullivan (1-for-4) each had two RBI.
Sullivan improved to 5-0 in the circle as she went four innings, allowing three runs on three hits, walking three and striking out three. Shelby Nunn pitched the next two frames, striking out four Golden Eagles.
Haeli Bryson started the contest but took a no-decision, throwing the first three frames as she allowed three runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out two. Alyssa Arden was saddled with the loss, allowing eight runs on 10 hits in 2 2/3 frames, walking none and striking out two. Callie Piper faced the final two batters, walking both, including Carter with the bases loaded to force the run rule.