Feb. 20, 2009
LAFAYETTE, La. – A two-run triple in the top of the fifth inning off the bat of junior Molly Johnson lifted Kentucky to a come from behind 6-4 win over San Diego State in the first game of the 5 th Annual Mardi Gras Invitational Friday afternoon.
Johnson went 2-for-3 on the day to lead Kentucky. As a squad the Blue and White tallied nine hits in their victory to improve to 4-2 on the year.
Kentucky and San Diego State both went scoreless in the first inning despite both squads putting runners on base.
The Wildcats opened up the scoring in the second after sophomore Megan Yocke doubled into right-center. Johnson’s sacrifice bunt advanced the runner and sophomore Samantha DeMartine’s RBI single into left field scored Yocke from third for the early 1-0 lead. UK earned a pair of walks to load the bases, but the Wildcats were unable to capitalize and get any more runners to cross home ending the inning on a pop-up to the catcher.
San Diego State fired back in the bottom half of the frame to answer. The Aztecs opened with a base hit to the pitcher, but then UK committed a pair of errors that allowed the designated home squad to plate two scores to take a 2-1 lead.
Junior Natalie Smith led off with a double to left center to open the top of the third. Freshman Brittany Cervantes took a walk to first after getting plucked with a pitch in the left leg. Yocke flew out to left field and on the tag-up Smith got caught at third; however Cervantes was able to scoot over to second. Cervantes advanced to third after Johnson singled up the middle. Cervantes came home on a heads-up play when the pitcher bobbled the ball on a return throw. Johnson moved over to second on the play, and found her way home when DeMartine singled into right field helping UK reclaim a 3-2 edge.
The Aztecs plated a run to tie the score in the top of the third. San Diego State scored their run on two hits and no errors. They added a run in the fourth after UK went scoreless in the inning. The designated home squad posted the run after tallying two doubles in the inning to take the 4-3 lead.
UK had an exciting fifth inning to recapture its early lead. After opening up with a groundout, UK got three straight hits beginning with a double to right-center off the bat of Cervantes. Yocke’s single to left field put runners on the corner setting the stage for Johnson. The right-handed batter sent a well driven ball down the right-field line that found its way into the corner of the outfield for a two-run triple. A heady play allowed Johnson to round home after an error on the Aztec’s second baseman for a 6-4 edge.
UK was able to hold onto the lead behind the right-arm of pitcher Amber Matousek. The junior went the distance for the Blue and White throwing all seven innings with three strikeouts.
“Amber really had a great game for us in the circle today,” head coach Rachel Lawson said. “She got us out of some jams today that really guided us to another win.”
Kentucky is back in action later this evening as they take on the host No. 20 Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns with first pitch slated for 7:30 p.m. ET.
