Rousseau flirts with perfection as WKU sweeps Troy

Austin Lanter

Senior pitcher Emily Rousseau took a perfect game into the seventh inning of WKU’s game against Troy Sunday before walking a batter with only two outs to go for perfection. In the 5-0 win, Rousseau threw a complete game, no hitter and struck out nine batters.

“She was dynamite,” coach Amy Tudor said. “I felt like she had control of all of her pitches. To throw a no hitter is huge. It doesn’t happen in everyones career and I couldn’t be more proud of her.”

The Lady Toppers (19-10-1, 3-0 SBC) completed the sweep Sunday against taking both games of the doubleheader Saturday against the Trojans (14-18-2, 0-3) with 3-0 and 8-1 wins respectfully.

WKU jumped out to a 1-0 lead over Troy in the first inning yet again Sunday. With two outs, senior outfielder Kelsie Mattox was able to connect on a single to bring in junior infielder Preslie Cruce.

In the third inning, the first two WKU batters safely reached based and were brought home by the third batter of the inning, junior outfielder Shawna Sadler. Two batters later Sadler scored a run for herself courtesy of an RBI single by senior infielder Amanda Thomas.

The next inning, sophomore infielder Brooke Holloway led the inning off with a triple to right field. Later in the inning, senior infielder Olivia Watkins was able to bring her home with a sacrifice fly to left field and increase the WKU lead to 5-0.

Troy did not get a runner of base until the seventh and final inning. With one out, Troy’s Kacie McAllister connected on the ball and it went straight to Watkins at second base who bobbled it to allow McAllister to safely reach first.

Rousseau then walked the next batter and her perfect game was no more.

Seven different players recorded a hit for WKU on the day and Sadler led the way with her two RBI’s.

Tudor said it was huge to begin their Sun Belt title defense with three wins the opening weekend of conference play.

“I think it’s huge to come out swinging and pitching well,” she said. “I thought we did well in all three facets of the game. (It) all came together this weekend, game one through game three. I think it’s a huge momentum going into conference.”

WKU will be back in action this Wednesday with an away game against Murray State (13-13, 2-2 OVC).