CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. ? The University of Kentucky softball team began the 2008 campaign with two wins Saturday, as they defeated Wichita State and Chattanooga at the Chattanooga Shootout. Head Coach Rachel Lawson becomes the first coach in school history to begin her tenure with opening day wins.
Kentucky (2-0, 0-0) defeated Wichita State 5-2, in the first game of the morning stringing together their third consecutive season with an opening day victory. In game two, UK got a run in the seventh inning and held on to win over the host squad Chattanooga, 3-2.
The Wildcats got a big lift from three freshmen as Megan Yocke, Annie Rowlands and Meagan Aull began their careers with a bang in helping guide the Blue and White to opening victories. Rowlands? had two extra base hits to begin her career, including a two-run triple in the first inning against Wichita State. Yocke and Aull each went 2-5 on the day, as Yocke led the team with three stolen bases.
Kentucky opened their year with a three run first inning against Wichita State. The Wildcats started off with three consecutive base hits from Yocke, and sophomores Natalie Smith and Molly Johnson. Johnson knocked in Yocke on her single for the first RBI of the season. With runners in scoring position, Rowlands hit a rocket to the center field fence knocking in Smith and Johnson for the early 3-0 advantage.
?We really had some great performances from our freshmen today,? Lawson said. ?Our young kids stepped up in situations that other people may not have excelled as well in.?
The Shockers responded with two runs in the first inning, making it a 3-2 game. But, the Wildcats came back with a two-run inning of their own in the second frame. Senior Audrey Meyer began the inning with a single, and then Yocke reached on an error. Smith put a well placed ball into the dirt and the throw by the first baseman resulted in an error, scoring Meyer and Yocke. After two innings of play the Wildcats emerged with a 5-2 lead one they would never relinquish.
?Offensively we did a great job today,? Lawson said. ?We really came out on the attack and swung at good pitches. I thought we had a great performance from our entire order.?
UK then rode the right arm of sophomore Amber Matousek and used a stellar display of defense to bring in the win. Matousek pitched six scoreless innings while striking out 10 batters for her first win of the season. Matousek’s strikeout total is a new career high, as she struck out five in a game previously as a freshman. Defensively the Wildcats were sound giving their pitcher some strong support play.
?We had a really great pitching performance from (Amber) Matousek today,? said Lawson. ?After she settled down after the first inning, she was pretty much flawless. Defensively we came up with a lot of huge plays. They will just go into the book as outs, but really they were game-saving plays.?
In game two, the host team Chattanooga jumped out to an early 2-0 advantage thanks in large part to two Kentucky errors to open the game. After a scoreless second inning, the Wildcats fired back with two runs in the third stanza.
The Blue and White put two runners in scoring position with mistakes from Chattanooga?s pitcher Brooke Loudermilk, as she walked Smith and then hit Johnson. Senior Ashley Dimkich stepped in and drove in a two-run single evening the score at two. Defense and strong pitching ensued throughout the next three innings on both sides.
In the seventh inning of play, Johnson ripped a single down the left field line putting the winning run on base. Johnson then advanced to third base after some keen base running on a passed ball. With Johnson in prime scoring position, junior Becky Bishop ripped a shot at the shortstop and Johnson scored easily.
With the lead, Kentucky leaned on senior pitcher Megan Jolly who got three batters to hit into outs to wrap up the second win of the day for the Blue and White. Jolly pitched a complete game tossing two strikeouts and giving up just four hits.
?We are very proud of our team?s defense today,? Lawson said. ?We also executed very well today, which was a great way to begin the season.?
The Wildcats return to the field tomorrow for another two-game set. UK will face Wichita State at 10:30 a.m., and then face off with Chattanooga at 3:00 p.m. Complete coverage of the Wildcats can be found at www.ukathletics.com.
