Kramer throws eighth no-hitter in WKU history

Infielder+Kaylan+Davis+walks+back+to+the+dugout%2C+while+South+Alabama+celebrates%2C+after+being+called+out+on+a+check+swing+with+two+runners+on+to+end+the+first+game+of+a+double+header+against+South+Alabama.+The+Lady+Toppers+dropped+the+game+3-2.+%28Ian+Maule%2FHERALD%29
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Infielder Kaylan Davis walks back to the dugout, while South Alabama celebrates, after being called out on a check swing with two runners on to end the first game of a double header against South Alabama. The Lady Toppers dropped the game 3-2. (Ian Maule/HERALD)

Alexus Richardson
February 10, 2015

After putting up 33 wins in 2014 and a fourth place finish in the Sun Belt Conference last season, the WKU Softball team came ready to kick off the 2015 season, registering the program’s eighth no-hitter in school history in their first weekend of competition.  

Coming off an 8-0 win over Buffalo, before falling 7-2 to North Florida on Friday, the team was able to regroup and defeated host Troy 4-0 and Alabama State 16-8 on Saturday.  

Senior pitcher Miranda Kramer showed off her offensive prowess, putting forth a no-hitter with 19 strikeouts, which tied for second most strikeouts in a single game for Conference USA history. 

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“They had played Troy last year in the Sun Belt Conference—this was the first time I had played Troy after just transferring in, but the biggest thing is they could hit so we knew we had to scrap together hits,” Kramer said. 

 The only runs of the game against Troy were in the first inning as senior Dani Pugh earned her second home run of the year to make the ball game 4-0. 

“Miranda Kramer had a great outing on the field in her first year as a Hilltoppper,” Head Coach Amy Tudor said. “And I thought Dani Pugh had an outstanding weekend with 18 RBI’s, and 2 grand slams.”

The team then played Alabama State, where they earned 15 hits in the game, including freshman Lexie Norfleet going 3 for 3 at bat.

Although Alabama State was up 5-0 in its first time on offense, Pugh’s second grand slam of the season allowed WKU to cut the margin to 5-4 after one inning. The team added four runs in the second inning and five runs in the third to lead Alabama State 13-5. Alabama then launched a three-run home run in the fifth leading 13-8, but WKU was able to end the game with Norfleet scoring on an error and Sadler earning a two RBI double. 

“Overall, I think there was good team effort. I felt the senior class really stepped up and I felt like people really embraced and played their roles,” Tudor said. 

The team hopes to work on pitching and running the bases better in this upcoming weekend’s contests, which start Friday, Feb. 13 in Tallahassee Florida for the Unconquered Invitational. WKU will first take on Michigan and later host-school Florida State on Friday, concluding on Saturday against Nebraska and Georgia Tech.