March 27, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky softball team will take a break from Southeastern Conference action and play host to instate rival Louisville on Wednesday at 6 p.m. ET at the UK Softball Complex. This is the first of the annual home-and-away series between the two schools with the next meeting scheduled for April 4 at 6 p.m. ET in Louisville.
The UK marketing department is offering a pack of 2012 UK softball trading cards to the first 50 fans at Wednesday’s game.
Kentucky (15-16) is coming off its best four-game stretch of the season with an impressive weekend on the road. UK first captured a win over Western Kentucky in Bowling Green, Ky., before taking a series from No. 18/21 Auburn in its first SEC road series of the season.
The series win over the Tigers marked just the fourth in school history and second in the Rachel Lawson era. Furthermore, it was the first time UK has claimed the series on the road as the other previous three series wins have come at home.
UK was paced at the plate by a .500 weekend from junior Kara Dill. Dill hit her first career homer to help propel the Wildcats past the Hilltoppers and then went on to score four times in the series with Auburn.
Sophomore Ellen Weaver played an integral part in the Wildcats’ series win. Weaver came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs in the second game of the series at Auburn. She promptly found a gap in right-center to clear the bases and bring in the three runs to lift UK to the decisive 5-2 series win.
Senior Rachel Riley provided the Wildcats with terrific pitching in a pair of wins last week. She first worked a complete game in a win in front of her hometown crowd at WKU. Riley was the winning pitcher in the deciding second game of the series which resulted in the ninth victory over a top-25 ranked opponent in her career. She also provided a 2-for-4 day at the plate to aid her own cause.
Louisville (27-0) has risen to No. 11 in the polls after an incredible undefeated run to begin the season. The Cardinals have a steady balance of offensive firepower and effective pitching.
Louisville as a team is batting .341 for the season and is led by a .426 clip from Alicja Wolny. Taner Fowler has hit a team-leading five home runs and driving in 23 RBI to begin the year.
In the circle, Chelsea Leonard boasts a 0.82 ERA, while Torri Collins is 12-0 with a team-high 100 strikeouts tossed.
For continuing coverage of the 2012 UK softball season log on to UKathletics.com.
