Nunn pitches shutout against Saint Louis in WKU’s final game of Ole Miss Classic

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Gunnar Word / WKU Athletics

WKU junior infielder TJ Webster encourages fifth-year pitcher Shelby Nunn during WKU’s exhibition doubleheader against Austin Peay on Oct. 12, 2021.

Wyatt Sparkman, Sports Editor

WKU Softball (16-3) wrapped up its final day of the Ole Miss Classic with a 3-0 win over the Saint Louis Billikens Sunday morning. The Hilltoppers move to 6-0 on the year in neutral site games.  

Fifth-year senior Shelby Nunn started in the circle for the Hilltoppers, throwing a complete game shutout and striking out five. Senior Chloe Wendling started for the Billikens. She pitched a complete game while allowing three runs and striking out seven Hilltoppers. 

WKU junior TJ Webster went 3-for-4 with an RBI, including the tie-breaking RBI single in the top of the fifth.  

Nunn and Wendling dominated early on in the game, allowing just five hits and eight strikeouts in the first four innings. Both programs left five runners on base and four in scoring position.   

Webster singled for the first hit of the game, but she was stranded on second base after two strikeouts. Senior Gabbie Kowalik singled in the bottom of the first and advanced to third on a throwing error during a steal attempt. She was stranded at third base after Nunn retired the next two batters. 

Fifth-year senior Bailey Curry led off the bottom of the second with a walk for the Hilltoppers, but nothing mounted after a sacrifice groundout and another two strikeouts for Wendling. Senior Allie Herron singled to lead off the top of the second, but Nunn forced three consecutive ground outs to end the second inning.  

Webster hit a two-out single in the top of the third before stealing second base and advancing to third on a throwing error. Wendling kept her on third after striking out junior Taylor Sanders. Nunn forced the first three up, three down inning in the bottom of the third. 

Senior Jordan Ridge led off the top of the fourth with a single, but was thrown out at second on a steal attempt. Wendling forced a line out to end the top of the frame. Nunn forced her second consecutive three up, three down inning to end the fourth. 

In the top of the fifth, someone made a mistake and that was Saint Louis. Wendling gave up two walks before junior Brylee Hage singled, loading the bases. Webster followed with an RBI single to score the first run of the game. Ridge added to the Hilltoppers lead with a two-run RBI single to put WKU up 3-0.

Senior Kelsey Etling read on a throwing error to lead off the bottom of the fifth, but was caught stealing for the second out of the inning. Nunn gave up a single and stranded her at first base to end the fifth inning. 

Freshman Abby Newman hit a one-out single in the top of the sixth then stole second base. Nothing came of it after she was thrown out at third on a fielder’s choice. The Billikens were put down in order to end the sixth frame. 

Wendling put a runner on base with two outs on a hit by pitch, but WKU didn’t extend its lead. Saint Louis went down in order to end the game, giving Nunn her second complete game shutout of the season. 

Up next, WKU will play its first conference series of the season on the road against the Charlotte 49ers. The series starts Friday, March 4, at 4 p.m. 

Sports Editor Wyatt Sparkman can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @wyattsparkman3.