MOBILE, Ala. ? Behind Jennifer Kempf’s third complete game of the weekend, the Western Kentucky softball team picked up a 2-0 victory over South Alabama Sunday afternoon at Jaguar Field.  With the win, the Hilltoppers take the three game Sun Belt series versus the Jags.

USA falls to 34-20 on the year and 10-10 in the Sun Belt, while WKU improves to 27-28 overall and 10-11 in the league.  The Jags will now close out the regular season at Troy in a three-game Sun Belt Conference series next weekend, May 5-6.

South Alabama had its scoring chances each of the first three innings with a runner at third and one out in both the first and second innings and then with the bases loaded with two out in the third, but the Jags were unable to get anything out of it as they stranded all five runners.

Western Kentucky also had its scoring chances in the first four innings, twice placing runners at second and third with just one out, but each time Jag starter Linden Jones was able to work out of the jam. 

The Hilltoppers broke through on the scoreboard in the fifth inning when second baseman Terri Ellingsworth led off with her second home run in as many days.  The Ellingsworth solo shot to left center was her third of the season proved to be the only run Kempf would need.  WKU added another run later in the inning when with two outs, third baseman Rebecca Horesky singled to left of Jag reliever Beth Pilgrim, driving in Sam Cronk from second and putting WKU, 2-0.

USA again had scoring opportunities in both the fifth and seventh innings with two runners aboard, but as was the case for much of the game, the Jags were unable to push any runs across once runners got into scoring position.  For the game, South Alabama left 10 runners on base and in five of the seven innings had a runner at third but could not drive them home.

Kempf (18-16) went the distance and picked up the win for the Hilltoppers, allowing just three hits.  Jones (18-10), pitching in her final home game of her career, took the loss for the Jags.