BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The Toledo softball team fell 7-2 to Indiana State, but bounced back with a 1-0 shutout win over Western Kentucky to split its Friday doubleheader at the WKU Hilltopper Classic. With the split, Toledo remains above .500 by running its record to 4-3 on the year.

Indiana State 7, Toledo 2
Indiana State tallied runs in the first three innings to put the Rockets behind early in the game. Toledo plated a pair of runs in the third inning to cut the Indiana State lead in half to 4-2, but that would be all for the UT offense. ISU added a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth for good measure.

Junior Katie Cozy came off the bench to put in a 2-for-2 performance, while senior Ashley Rausch and junior Kaitlyn Bergman each drove in runs for the Midnight Blue & Gold. Sophomore Leah Allison pitched 3.0 innings of relief without allowing an earned run and recording three strikeouts. 

How it Happened

• Freshman Kylie Norwood singled and stole second to start the game, but a pair of fly outs spoiled the Rockets' chance to get on the board first.
• A leadoff walk, a runner advancing groundout and a two-out RBI single was enough to chase home the first run of the contest for Indiana State against junior starter Kailey Minarchick.
• A single and a hit batter put two aboard with no outs in the bottom of the second inning for ISU. After a groundout and a strikeout, ISU's Bailey Martin lifted a two-out three-run home run into the netting down the right field line.
• Toledo's rally had a similar start as freshman Brittney Davis singled and Norwood was hit by a pitch. With one out, freshman Bailey Curry singled to load the bases. Rausch drew a bases loaded walk to force in a run and Bergman delivered with an RBI single. Norwood scored easily on the hit, but pinch runner Taylor Powell was called out at the plate to end the inning.
• ISU answered with an unearned run in the third. A walk and a passed ball put a runner in scoring position and a two-out double made the score 5-2.
• The Rockets threatened in the fourth as freshman Ebony Garza laid down a bunt single to start the frame and moved to second on a wild pitch. Cozy singled Garza to third, but both runners were left stranded. 
• The Sycamores added two more in the sixth with the help of three Toledo walks to reach the final score of 7-2.

Toledo 1, Western Kentucky 0
Game two of the doubleheader was a pitchers' duel from the start. The lone run of the game came in the top half of the third inning when junior Megan Choate drove in Rausch from third base.

Rausch went 2-for-3 with a run scored while Choate was 1-for-3 with her first RBI of the season. Norwood, Curry and Cozy also broke into the hit column for UT. Junior Heather Webb and Minarchick were dominate in the circle. The duo allowed five hits in 7.0 innings of work, while recording six strikeouts and issuing just a pair of walks.  

How it Happened 

• Each team sent four batters to the plate in the first inning with both teams recording harmless one-out singles. 
• Rausch flipped a bloop double down the left field line to set up the scoring chance for the Rockets in the third. Rausch moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Powell and scored on an infield single by Choate that was trapped by the first baseman.
• Western Kentucky looked to answer with a pair of singles in the first three hitters of the bottom half. A leaping catch by Choate at second base and a throw to first doubled off the runner at first ended the inning. 
• Webb received some defensive help to set down the Hilltoppers in order in the fourth. Senior Sam Showalter robbed the leadoff hitter of extra bases with a running catch on the warning track in left and brought back a home run that would have tied the game two batters later.
• In relief, Minarchick retired WKU in order in the fifth, but the Rockets' bats experienced the same fate in the top of the sixth. 
• Two singles and a walk loaded bases for WKU with two outs in the sixth, but Minarchick induced a soft groundout to Curry at first to end the Hilltoppers final threat.

Weather permitting, the Rockets will take on Wisconsin-Green Bay tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. A four-team bracketed tournament will follow with championship and consolation games being played on Sunday.