The WKU Lady Topper Softball team scored a trio of runs in the first inning Wednesday and didn’t look back from there, defeating the Mavericks from Texas-Arlington (21-33) 6-1 in the Sun Belt Tournament.

UTA scored its lone run of the game in the first inning after junior infielder Preslie Cruce committed an error.

Cruce and the Lady Toppers didn’t stay down for long though. Cruce was walked to lead off the bottom half of the frame and eventually came around to score the first run of the game for WKU and tie things up once more.

The team would tally two more runs in the frame to take a 3-1 lead after one inning of play.

WKU added another run in the second inning and then a pair of runs in the fifth to take the game 6-1.

Senior pitcher Emily Rousseau did not allow a hit until the sixth inning. Overall, the Lady Toppers outhit their opponents 11-2 in the contest.

Rousseau pitched all seven innings for WKU and struck out two batters.

Sophomore infielder Brooke Holloway recorded two RBI’s on the day while junior catcher Jacqueline McGill went 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI.

Four total Lady Toppers recorded multiple hits in the game.

The road, however, does not get any easier from here for WKU. Next up for the Lady Toppers (33-22-1) will be the host and No. 1 seeded Ragin’ Cajuns of Louisiana-Lafayette (41-7-1).

ULL swept WKU earlier this season in Bowling Green by scores of 8-4, 11-5, and 6-4 respectively.

The two teams will play Thursday at 5 p.m.

The tournament will now be double elimination after the first day of play was single elimination.