LEXINGTON, Ky. ? The University of Kentucky softball team will host South Carolina in a three-game weekend series at the UK Softball Complex.

The Wildcats (13-14, 1-5) are coming off a 5-4 loss in Louisville on Wednesday. Sophomore Molly Johnson hit a two-run home run in the top of the seventh, but the late-run rally wasn?t enough as the Blue and White dropped the season series against their in-state counterparts.

South Carolina and UK have met on the softball diamond 38 times in school history, with the Gamecocks holding a 29-9 series record, including a 3-0 sweep last season. South Carolina holds a 13-15 overall record, and has won just two games in conference action.

Johnson leads the Wildcats in most offensive categories including batting average (.420), home runs (4), RBI (20), stolen bases (8), and doubles (8). Johnson has now hit multi-extra-base hits in a game four times this season, three of which include a double and a home run in the same contest. Additionally, the second-year player has strung together 78 consecutive starting nods, including all 27 this season at shortstop.

Sophomore Natalie Smith and freshman Meagan Aull both tallied two hits a piece in Wednesday?s loss to Louisville. It was just the second one-run game of the season for the Blue and White.

Sophomore right-hander Amber Matousek has been Kentucky?s go-to pitcher. She has thrown a career-high 111.1 innings and 78 strikeouts. Jennifer Young holds a 3-and-3 record in the circle and will see action this weekend against the Gamecocks.

The Wildcats and Gamecocks will play a doubleheader that begins at 1 p.m. Saturday, and follow that with a single contest beginning at 1 p.m., on Sunday. Complete coverage and live stats can be found at www.ukathletics.com.