BOWLING GREEN - Katie Mielke was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI as the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (28-28, 14-9 SBC) won the deciding game of the series against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (28-30, 11-13 SBC) at WKU Softball Complex in Bowling Green, Ky. on Sunday, 3-1.
The Blue Raiders came into the contest needing just one more victory to secure the fourth place position in the Sun Belt Conference regular season standings after splitting two games of a doubleheader against the Hilltoppers on Saturday.
Blue Raider starter Lindsey Vander Lugt (19-19) picked up the victory, her 38th decision of the season, giving up no earned runs and scattering six hits, while striking out three, in the complete game effort. She now sits second all-time in school history in season pitching appearances with 48.
Jennifer Kempf (19-17) made her third appearance of the series for the Hilltoppers in the loss, giving up two earned runs on nine hits, while striking out four and walking one, in the complete game.
Middle Tennessee opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd inning when all-everything player Samantha Floyd doubled to right center, driving in Martha Davis and giving the Blue Raiders a 1-0 lead. Floyd, who picked up her seventh victory as a pitcher in the nightcap on Saturday, is batting .253 with two home runs and 14 RBI on the season.
Justine Cerda doubled MT's lead in the top of the 5th with a single down the left field line, driving in Katie Mielke.
Western Kentucky halved the advantage in the top of the 6th inning through a Rebecca Moresky RBI single up the middle to leave the game at 2-1 heading into the final inning.
Mielke provided the insurance run with a solo shot to left-center field. Her superb display on the day improved her batting average to .252. She is now second on the team in home runs with seven and fourth in RBI with 26.
The Blue Raiders are set to open the Sun Belt Conference Tournament against the South Alabama Jaguars on Wednesday at Blue Raider Field at 5:30 p.m. The tournament is being hosted by Middle Tennessee and will run through the championship game on Saturday.
GoBlueRaiders.com would like to thank all players, parents and staff whom have made this season possible and we look forward to a successful post-season tournament.
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