HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Lady Toppers continued their winning ways on day two of the Southern Miss Tournament by taking down Samford 4-3 in eight innings and Central Arkansas 2-1 in nine innings.  WKU, who moves to 3-1 on the season came through when it mattered and heads into the Auburn University Tiger Invitational on a two game winning streak.

The Lady Toppers got off to a fast start against Samford in the first inning scoring their first run of the day off a Terri Ellingsworth sacrifice fly that scored junior Jamie Hennis from third base.  Hennis, who reached first base after an error by Samford, advanced to third after junior Lindsay Antone recorded her first double of the 2009 season.  

In the bottom of the second inning, Samford tied the game after WKU committed its first of three errors. But, WKU regained the lead in the fourth inning.  In the inning, senior Rebecca Horesky walked to reach first base.  Following the walk, Horesky advanced to third after junior Brooke Reed posted another WKU double and scored after junior Kelsey McCauley singled down the left field line, her first of two hits in the game.

Leading 2-1, WKU gave up two runs in the fifth inning to go down for the first time in the game after a Samford single, double and a WKU error.  With the game on the line, McCauley came through for the Lady Toppers and on the first pitch of the seventh inning hit her first homerun of the season to tie the game at three and eventually send the game into extra innings.  

In the eighth inning, it was all WKU and the Lady Toppers secured the win when sophomore Elizabeth Ferrell scored off a Ellingsworth double.  

In the game, three Lady Toppers posted two hits a piece and four Lady Toppers recorded one hit each.  Senior pitcher, Ryan Rogge (2-0), pitched all eight innings and gave up only eight hits and struck out five en route to her second win of the season.

In game two against Central Arkansas, the Lady Toppers, once again, got on the board first when Hennis scored off a Ellingsworth double, her third of the season.  Following the run, WKU and Central Arkansas battled defensively before the Lady Toppers threatened in the third fourth inning, but were unable to extend their lead.  The Lady Toppers led 1-0 through five innings before Central Arkansas was able to score their first run of the day off a sacrifice hit that tied the game at one.

Behind outstanding pitching by senior Jennifer Kempf and WKU defense, the Lady Toppers and Central Arkansas battled until the Lady Toppers took control of the game in the ninth inning.  With sophomore Brittney Perry on second base, junior Shannon Smith hit a single to left field to send Perry to third base.  After a Horesky walk and the bases loaded, senior Sam Cronk gave the Lady Toppers the win with a single to center field and Perry crossed the plate for the game winning run.

Hennis and Smith both recorded three hits in the game while Cronk added two hits.  Antone was also a force in the field as she recorded 18 putouts in the game.  Kempf pitched all nine innings and racked up four strikes while only giving up five hits and one run after facing 35 batters.

Cronk led the way for the Lady Toppers during the weekend finishing with a .500 batting average after collecting eight hits, two doubles, a three run homer, six RBI, scoring three runs and driving in the winning run against Central Arkansas on Sunday.

The Lady Toppers continue play in the Auburn University Tiger Invitational next weekend.  WKU will open up play on Fri. against Furman at 5:30 p.m. CST. 

 - WKU -