Tops Survive and Advance in Day One of Sun Belt Tourney
Courtesy Sunbeltsports.org
Day one is complete in Lafayette, Louisiana as the Sun Belt Softball tournament is in full swing. Day was full of compelling games including a few upsets. Lets take a moment and dive into what day one had in store for Fun Belt fans.
Game one pitted number 6 UL Monroe versus number 7 Troy. The two teams played a compelling game as Troy took the Warhawks to the brink of elimination, however, ULM came out on top with a score of 3-2. Heading into the bottom of the 7th, the Trojans of Troy held a slim 2-1 lead, but in the final inning, Sidney Coy from ULM lead off the inning with a double to start the rally. Freshman Miyuki Navarrete moved Coy to third on a single, and on the following play Navarrete would steal second. Monroe’s number two batter would draw a walk to load the bases. After that, junior Alexis Cacioppo sac flied to tie the game at 2 and advance Navarrete to third. A few plays later…Navarette would score on a wild pitch for the walk-off victory for the Warhawks.
Game two was a little less interesting on the scoring side, as number 8 seed UT Arlington knocked off number 5 seed Texas State 5-1. UTA would score two runs in the top of the 5th and 6th innings including two triples in the 5th and an error in the 6th setting them up to face WKU later in the day.
Game three saw number ULM for the second time of the day, this time upsetting number 3 Georgia State (which, potentially, could be a more favorable matchup for WKU) and sending them packing by a score of 2-1 in 9 innings. ULM would rely on RBI’s from Rochelle Roberts and Hollie Letourneau for their two runs and the win.
Finally to the last game which pitted number 4 WKU versus number 8 UT Arlington. The Hilltoppers would take the match 6-1, with runs from six players including Preslie Cruce, Olivia Watkins, Shawna Sadler, Brooke Holloway, Jacqueline McGill, and India Steward. Fittingly, WKU’s winning pitcher would be 2 time Sun Belt Pitcher of the Week Emily Rousseau.
Games 5 and 6 today will start at 2pm with South Alabama taking on UL Monroe, and WKU versus number one UL Lafayette. Yesterday was a single elimination format, so Texas State, Georgia State and UT-Arlington are gonners, and today’s games will begin the double elimination portion of the bracket, so if WKU stumbles vs. ULL, they’re not done.
Until then, have a great day, and GO TOPS!