KNOXVILLE, Tenn.. ? Sophomore Molly Johnson sent a two-run home run over the left field wall in the top of the eighth inning to propel the visiting Wildcats over the No. 6 ranked Tennessee Volunteers, 2-0, Friday night to claim the first win over UT in two seasons. The teams endured a 32-minute rain delay in between the fifth and sixth innings, adding to the three-hour extra inning affair.
?I?m just really glad I could come through and help our team win our SEC opener,? Johnson said. ?It felt really good, and I know that we all just really wanted to get a win against them (Tennessee).?
The teams managed just seven total hits in the first seven innings of action before both teams tallied two hits in the eighth. Kentucky batting first, led off with sophomore Natalie Smith who sent a hit right to the second base bag and reached first with some swift base running. Johnson, who went 2-for-2 today at the plate with a double in the first inning, had been walked her previous two at-bats. With the Volunteers throwing to Kentucky?s No. 3 hitter, Johnson showed bunt on the first two strikes. On the fourth pitch of the at-bat, she sent a ball over the 10-foot left field wall for the winning runs. It was her third round tripper of the season, and 10th of her career. With a double and a home run in today?s game, she has now extended her hitting streak to a career-long seven games.
Kentucky?s (12-8, 1-0) win in today?s conference opener was just the first conference opening victory since March 12, 2005, at home over Ole Miss. UK?s upset over No. 6 Tennessee (23-4, 1-3) is the first over a ranked foe since knocking off No. 13 Washington in the first game of the 2006 season.
?Anytime you win, especially against a great team like Tennessee it is awesome,? said Head Coach Rachel Lawson. ?Beating Tennessee is something these kids dream about, and to do it in such dramatic fashion was really exciting.?
Tennessee made things interesting in the bottom of the eighth with the top of their order coming to bat. Kentucky pitcher Amber Matousek retired the first two batters with two ground outs to Johnson at shortstop. The Volunteers got on base with a line drive right back at Matousek that briefly had the right-hander shaken up. She stepped to the mound after a few warm-up tosses and walked the next batter putting runners on first and second. The home squad then singled up the middle, but the runner held at the corner loading the bases with two outs. On the second pitch, Tennessee sent a fly ball to center field where freshman Meagan Aull easily swallowed it up to preserve the win for the Blue and White, their first in two years ending a seven-game Volunteer winning streak.
?I know Amber (Matousek) is ecstatic,? Lawson said. ?I think this is the best she has ever pitched in her college career. She really came out here and threw well, and that was incredible for us.?
To open the game in the top of the first, Kentucky reached base when Smith earned a base on balls from her number two position. In a stolen base attempt, Smith left the bag early and was called out. That?s when Johnson smacked a double into the left field corner. The inning ended on a strikeout, as the Wildcats could not push a run over the plate.
Matousek was stellar on the mound for the Wildcats. She gave up a hit, an infield single, to begin the game on her way to tossing eight scoreless innings. Despite giving up a hit during the first at-bat she would only face three batters in the inning as the sophomore made two nice defensive plays. She got the second batter to pop up, and then a line out right back at her resulted in a double-play as she caught the Volunteers in the base path to close out the inning.
?Today was all about just going out there and pitching my game,? said Matousek. ?We had absolutely nothing to lose and they are a great hitting team. I just had to go out there and pitch and do the best that I could.?
The second inning saw another Wildcat base runner left stranded. Senior Ashley Dimkich reached base on another walk, but Kentucky once again could not advance the runners. The Volunteers opened the inning with a walk as well, but Matousek dug in her heels and sat the next three batters down to end any threat.
Senior Audrey Meyer opened the third inning with a single that dropped into a gap in center field, giving the Wildcats a base runner in the third consecutive inning. Smith was able to advance Meyer to second with a beautifully placed bunt. After doubling in the first inning, the Lady Volunteers opted to intentionally walk Johnson putting two runners on base for UK. Sophomore Destinee Mordecai sent a well hit ball to second, but the Lady Volunteers made a nice scoop and throw to first to end the inning.
Junior Katie McCarty extended her hitting streak to a personal-best three games with a two-out single to centerfield in the fourth inning. Aull sent a deep fly ball to center field, but the Volunteers were able to make the grab and once again end the Wildcats’ scoring opportunity.
Tennessee grounded out to shortstop to open the fifth inning. Matousek walked the third batter of the inning, who then promptly stole second despite a valiant effort by the Wildcat defense in a closely contested throw-down. With Tennessee?s top of the order coming to the plate, Matousek forced the lead-off hitter into a groundout ending the inning.
Rain began to fall at the stadium forcing a rain delay with the score knotted at zero. The two teams sat in the dugout for 32 minutes before play resumed.
?I think anytime you have rain like that it really messes with the momentum of the game,? Lawson said. ?I?m sure it had the same affect on them as it did on us. I think any time you have a delay like that, it does have an affect on how you play.?
Kentucky had their best scoring chance in regulation in the top of the seventh inning. McCarty got a single to deep center field to start things off, and freshman Annie Rowlands stepped in to pinch run. Aull sent a well hit ball down the right field line, but the UT first baseman made a nice snag tapping on the bag to get an unassisted out, the first of the inning. Meyer then tallied her second hit of the game dropping a ball just over the second base bag and Rowlands was able to move to third. Freshman Megan Yocke stepped to the plate with just a single out on the scoreboard and a runner in prime position. Her sacrifice fly attempt went to the middle of the right field and Rowlands tagged up. Tennessee?s right-fielder made an outstanding throw to the plate and Rowlands was called out at home.
Tomorrow?s double header is slated to begin at 1 p.m., with the second game beginning 20 minutes after the conclusion of the first game. Complete coverage and live results of the games this weekend can be found by visiting www.ukathletics.com.
