Feb. 23, 2009

LAFAYETTE, La. –

Freshman pitcher Chanda Bell and junior shortstop Molly Johnson were named to the Fifth Annual Mari Gras Invitational All-Tournament team it was announced. Kentucky was also named the tournament’s runner-up after going 2-2.

Johnson was spectacular offensively and defensively for the Wildcats this weekend. The junior from Arizona posted a team-best .538 batting average on seven hits—including a two-run triple to help defeat San Diego State. She also led the team with six runs scored and 11 defensive assists.

Bell improved her first-year record to 3–1 with a 1–1 weekend. She threw all seven innings in Kentucky’s 5-3 win over UConn on Sunday. The right-hander tallied 12 strikeouts in the victory to reach the double-digit plateau for the second time in her career. In the loss to No. 20 Louisiana-Lafayette she threw a career-high nine innings while striking out seven batters. For the weekend she fanned 19 batters and yielded just three walks.

Nine players were named to the All-Tournament team as voted on by the media and sports information directors who attended the Invitational. The host team, Louisiana-Lafayette who captured the tournament crown, claimed the MVP of the tournament: Melissa Verde.

Kentucky returns to action Friday, Feb. 27th at the Stetson University Tournament in Deland, Fla. UK will face Centenary, Maryland and host Stetson in the three-day round-robin tournament.

Complete coverage of the UK softball team can be found at UKathletics.com.

2009 Mardi Gras Invitational All-Tournament Team
Julianne Towers – UConn
Samantha Beasley – San Diego State
Brittany Knudsen – San Diego State

Chanda Bell – Kentucky
Molly Johnson – Kentucky
Donna Bourgeois – Louisiana
Ashley Brignac – Louisiana
Karli Hubbard – Louisiana
Katie Smith – Louisiana
Melissa Verde – Louisiana – Most Outstanding Player