TROY, Ala. -- Eighth-seeded ULM dropped a 9-1 decision in six innings against top-seeded Western Kentucky in its first game in Sun Belt Championship play Wednesday at the Troy Softball Complex.
Emily Rousseau got the win for the Lady Toppers, giving up one run on two hits and striking out five.
ULM (19-34) got to the Sun Belt's Pitcher of the Year in the top of the second. Janel Salanoa doubled to center then reached second on a WKU error. After a ULM walk and runners at the corners, Faith Bohack reached on an RBI fielder's choice and gave ULM a 1-0 lead.
Western Kentucky (39-14) answered immediately in the bottom of the fifth. Mallorie Sulaski's RBI double got the scoring started. A pair of RBI singles from Karavin Dew and Preslie Cruce gave the Lady Toppers a 3-1 lead. WKU added two runs on a ULM error to make it a 5-1 ball game.
The Lady Toppers scratched two more runs across in the bottom of the fourth with Cruce's two-out solo homer getting the scoring started. Two batters later, Ciara Garcia added an RBI double.
WKU also added a pair of runs in the home half of the sixth to end the game.
Mackenzie Miller recorded the only other ULM hit--a two-out bunt single in the top of the sixth.
The Warhawks take on fifth-seeded Florida Atlantic tomorrow at 10 AM in a fight to stay alive in the Sun Belt Tournament.
