LEXINGTON, Ky. ? The Kentucky softball team dropped a game to No. 1 Tennessee tonight, Apr. 14, after a five-hour rain delay. The Lady Vols took the seven-inning game by a final of 12-0 to improve to 45-2 on the year and 15-2 in the Southeastern Conference. The Wildcats even their record at 19-19 and move to 4-13 in SEC play.

UT senior pitcher Monica Abbott threw a complete-game shutout and struck out 17 as she improved to 34-1 with the victory. UK freshman Natalie Smith led off the game with a single to left field for the only Kentucky hit of the game.

Kentucky starter Amber Matousek also tossed a complete game, but fell to 6-6 on the year after allowing 10 earned runs on 13 hits.

The Lady Vols plated three runs in the top of the first on a pair of bunt singles, an RBI fielder?s choice and a two-run double by Tiffany Huff.

UT added single runs in the third, fourth and sixth to take a 6-0 lead but the Cats stranded nine baserunners through the first five innings to stay alive.

UK drew a pair of walks in the home half of the sixth and Smith reached for the second time in the game on a fielder?s choice. Abbott got a ground ball to erase the runner at second and struck out two to end the Cats? only scoring threat of the contest.

The Vols put it out of reach in the top of the seventh as they scored six runs on five hits and a UK throwing error to take the game by a final of 12-0.

The series wraps up on Sunday, Apr. 15, with a doubleheader set to begin at 1 p.m. The Wildcats will honor several of their former players who are in town for Alumni Weekend.