Sun Belt Softball: Thomas’ blast lifts WKU over ULM

Amanda Thomas' three-run homer in the eighth inning broke a 5-5 tie and #7 Western Kentucky defeated #6 Louisiana-Monroe 8-6 in eight innings in an elimination game in the Sun Belt conference softball tournament at Lamson Park in Lafayette.

Thomas, a freshman from Mesquite, Texas, hit a shot over the left field wall after Kartina Metoyer singled and Kelsie Mattox walked.  A Karavin Dew groundout moved the runners to second and third before Thomas' blast.

The homer, off losing pitcher Jessica Chastka, was the eighth homer of the year for the WKU shortstop.

ULM rallied from a 3-0 deficit to take a 5-4 lead before the Hilltoppers tied the game in the sixth on Dew's RBI single.

Brianna Love homered in the bottom of the eighth for ULM, who closed out their season at 28-28.

WKU (30-28) will play the loser of tonight's game between #1 Louisiana and #5 Troy in an elimination game tomorrow at 12:30pm