Murfreesboro, Tenn. — All the Western Kentucky University softball team needed to clinch a spot in next week’s Sun Belt Conference tournament was one victory this weekend at Middle Tennessee and they got just that as they split a doubleheader on Friday afternoon at Blue Raider Field. WKU won game two 5-3, but fell in the series opener 6-2.

Falling behind 3-0 in the first inning of game two, the Hilltoppers (26-27 overall, 8-14 in SBC play) didn’t give up and inched back into the ballgame. Two errors by MTSU (21-29, 10-12) allowed the Toppers to tie the game in the sixth as Rachelle Boucher started the inning by reaching on an error by the second baseman. Lindsay Antone then doubled to left field to score Brittney Perry, who ran for Boucher. Shelby Smith then reached on an error by the shortstop that allowed Elizabeth Ferrell to reach home after she singled.

The winning run crossed the plate in the seventh when Kelsey McCauley lead off the inning with a single and came around to home after a Boucher single to put the score at 4-3. WKU scored an insurance run when Boucher scored on a wild pitch.

Ferrell finished the game 3-for-5 while three other Hilltoppers tallied two hits each. Jennifer Kempf (11-11) pitched the full seven innings while allowing just three runs only, all in the first inning.

The Toppers went ahead 2-1 in the third inning of game one when Boucher doubled home Terri Ellingsworth, but Boucher was thrown out in a run down. Ferrell then doubled and on the same play scored after a throwing error by the second baseman.

The Blue Raiders put the game away with three runs in the third on a bases loaded fielder’s choice that scored a run, followed by a one-run single from Justine Cerda, and then a sacrifice fly by Whitney Darlington.

Boucher and Ferrell each collected two hits for the contest with Ferrell going 5-for-8 for the doubleheader.

The three-game set finishes on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. (CDT) with a single game.