MONROE, La. --The ULM softball program fell twice to Western Kentucky at the ULM Softball Complex Saturday.
The Lady Toppers (28-13-1, 8-3 Sun Belt) used three big innings across both contests to surpass the Warhawks (17-16, 3-7 Sun Belt) 7-1 and 9-3.
Miyuki Navarrete was 4-for-5 with three runs scored on the day. The junior infielder hit for the cycle, getting a single in game one and getting the triple, home run and double in the nightcap.
GAME ONE -- WKU 7, ULM 1
ULM fell 7-1 to open play Saturday.
Western Kentucky grabbed an early 2-0 lead courtesy of a ULM error and a bases-loaded walk in the top of the first and never looked back. Warhawk starter Samantha Hamby was able to avoid more damage, however, getting a strikeout to strand the bases full of Lady Toppers.
Alexis Cacioppo put the Warhawks on the board in the bottom of the third when she led off the frame with a solo homer to deep left. The bomb cut the WKU advantage. Sadly, it proved to be the lone run of the game for ULM.
The Lady Toppers were able to add two more runs to build a 4-1 lead in the top of the fourth after stringing together four hits.
WKU erupted for three runs in the top of the sixth to get out to a 7-1 advantage. Reliever Haylie Wilson worked out of a bases-loaded, one out jam to prevent further damage, however.
ULM worked a three up, three down frame in the top of the seventh but did not score in the home half.
The Warhawks had multiple opportunities to score runs in the contest, leaving at least two runners on base in each of the first four frames.
GAME TWO -- WKU 9, ULM 3
ULM dropped Saturday's nightcap by a 9-3 tally. Western Kentucky broke the game open with a three-run fifth and a four-run sixth inning.
The Lady Toppers got on the board first, cashing in on Preslie Cruce's leadoff double. The Warhawks were able to answer the run in the home half of the frame after cashing in on Navarrete's leadoff triple.
WKU got out to a 2-1 lead on Cruce's RBI double in the third, but Hamby, working in relief, escaped more damage by leaving the bases full of Lady Toppers. ULM later tied the game in the bottom half of the inning on Navarrete's solo shot to deep left.
WKU broke the 2-2 tie on a bizarre double steal play in the top of the fifth. In the same at-bat, the Lady Toppers increased their lead to 3-2 on a sac fly. Andie Martin capped the rally with a solo homer to left.
WKU's Andie Martin's solo blast ended the Lady Topper rally in the fifth.
ULM answered just one of those runs in the bottom of the inning when Navarrete doubled and later scored on a wild pitch.
Olivia Watkins and Shawna Sadler each blasted two-run hits in the sixth to break the game open.
The Warhawks return to wrap up the series tomorrow at 1 p.m. ULM will be wearing pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness.
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