BOWLING GREEN, Ky.-Junior Emily Rousseau threw a one-hit game Friday night to help the Western Kentucky University softball team (3-2) post a 3-0 win against Valparaiso (2-2) to open the Holiday Inn Hilltopper Classic at the WKU Softball Complex.
Rousseau (2-1) completed her third game of the season while striking out a career-high 11 batters and allowing just one walk. Valpo's Sierra Pico (1-1) took the loss after giving up four hits, two earned runs and three walks.
Senior Katrina Metoyer led WKU with two hits while juniors Olivia Watkins and Kelsie Mattox tabbed one each. Metoyer, Mattox and senior Shelby Taylor posted one RBI apiece.
WKU took an early 1-0 lead in the second off of a bases-loaded walk by Taylor. Junior Amanda Thomas reached on an error to open the inning before sophomore Jacqueline McGill walked and Metoyer laid down a bunt single on the first-base line to have three runners in position. Taylor's walk allowed pinch-runner freshman Bethany Oglesby to add the run.
With one out in the third, a Watkins single and stolen base put the junior in scoring position for Mattox's RBI single. Metoyer sealed the win at 3-0 in the fourth, as she hit WKU's first home run of the season over the centerfield wall.
The Lady Toppers continue the Hilltopper Classic on Saturday, February 23 when games will resume at Bowling Green's Buchanon Park. Day two's games will begin at noon, as WKU goes in a doubleheader starting at 2:30 p.m. and the final game at 5 p.m.
