WKU drops two close games No. 6 Louisiana-Lafayette in doubleheader

Freshman Preslie Cruce, Senior Amanda Walden and Junior Mallorie Sulaski team up to take out a player from Louisiana-Lafayette in one of Saturday’s games. The Lady Toppers were defeated in both games of the doubleheader.

Hasani Grayson

Despite playing No. 6 Louisiana-Lafayette close on Saturday, WKU lost both games they played against the conference leaders by scores of 4-1 and 2-1 respectively.

In the first game, WKU’s offense got the score started and gave Sophomore pitcher Emily Rousseau a slim lead to protect in the early innings.

After sophomore infielder Amanda Thomas worked the count full to load the bases in the bottom of the first inning, senior outfielder Laura Smith came up to bat with a chance for an RBI.

But instead of making contact with the ball, the ball made contact with her. Smith was hit by the pitch to drive in the first run of the game for WKU. The two batters behind Smith struck out with the bases loaded and limited the damage done in the inning.

Rousseau made the one run lead stand up until the fifth inning where an infield single by Louisiana-Lafayette’s Nerrissa Myers got an infield single to tie the game.

But the game didn’t stay tied for long.

Christi Orgeron hit a two run homer over the right field wall to put the Ragin’ Cajuns up 3-1 in the.

The Cajuns added another run when a line drive off the tip of Amanda Thomas’ glove allowed a runner on second base to score and eventually went on to win by that 4-1 score.

The second game of the day proved to be more of a pitchers duel. The starting pitchers for both teams shut out batters for six straight innings.

“Everything was working well,” said junior pitcher Mallorie Sulaski — WKU’s starter. “I just felt loose out there, and felt good.”

She said her right forearm, which has bothered her at various points in the season, felt good after the game.

Sulaski was dominant most of the game but, after a two run home run in the top of the seventh, WKU suddenly found themselves down 2-0 in the top of the the seventh.

Part of what made the game such a low scoring affair was the wide strike zone, which both pitchers took advantage of.

“We stayed on the corners and she (the umpire) was giving it to us so we just stayed there,” Sulaski said.

Junior Catcher Karavin Dew cut the deficit in half with a solo shot of her own but it wasn’t enough. The next two batters were quickly retired and a ball chopped behind the bag at second by senior infielder Amanda Walden was the last out of the inning. WKU fell 2-1in the game and was swept in Saturday’s doubleheader.

Though the day was winless for the the Lady Toppers, Head Coah Tyra Perry liked the effort she got from her team.

“You never want to lose, but I thought our team played great,” she said. “We really played solid defense, our pitchers stepped up and competed every pitch. I saw signs of some of the things I’ve been looking for.”

The players had a positive attitude about how they played ULL close that game as well.

“They’re ranked top 10 in the nation so this obviously shows that we can play with anyone,” Sulaski said. “We just need to do a few different things and we’re going to win that game.”

WKU will play the Ragin’ Cajuns tomorrow in the series finale as they try salvage a win in the three game series.