The Kentucky softball team split a Southeastern Conference doubleheader today, Mar. 24, against the visiting Ole Miss Rebels in front of a record crowd of 403 Wildcat fans at the UK Softball Complex. UK took game one by a score of 10-5, but came up just short in game two to fall by a final of 5-4. The Cats move to 16-11 on the year and 3-7 in the SEC, while UM is now 14-19 overall with a 5-5 mark in conference play.
Ole Miss jumped out to the early lead with a solo home run by Lauren Grill in the opening game of the series.
The Wildcats tied the score in the bottom of the first. Natalie Smith reached on a throwing error by the Ole Miss third baseman and stole third. She would score on an RBI groundout by Molly Johnson to knot the score at 1-1.
After a scoreless second inning, the Wildcats exploded for seven run sin the home half of the third to take an 8-1 lead. UK batted around and three runs scored on a wild pitch and throwing error by the Ole Miss catcher. The Cats scored the seven spot on four singles, three hit batters and the UM throwing error.
Ole Miss cut into the UK lead in the top of the sixth. Two singles a walk and a three-run homer helped the Rebels plate four runs and make it an 8-4 Wildcat lead.
Kentucky added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Molly Johnson drew a base on balls and Brooke Marnitz followed with a single to left field. Johnson would come around to score her second run of the game on a sacrifice fly to left field by Becky Bishop. Marnitz also scored for the second time in the game, this time when Alli Eckman reached on an error by the Ole Miss pitcher to give the Cats the 10-5 edge.
UK starter Megan Jolly retired the first two batters in the top of the seventh, but then walked a batter and gave up a single to put runners at second and third. A ground ball to Marnitz at short ended the inning as the Cats won their third SEC game of the year.
Audrey Meyer had a career day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Marnitz went 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored, while Campbell also had two hits and drove in a run. Johnson scored twice, drove in a run and was hit by a pitch twice in the Cats? seven-run third inning. Bishop was 1-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI for the Cats.
Jolly got the win for the Wildcats after allowing five earned runs on five hits in the complete game. She struck out three and walked two in 7.0 innings tossed.
In the second game, Ole Miss scored first with three runs on two hits in the second inning.
The Wildcats erased the shutout in the fourth when Johnson went to third on a throwing error by the Ole Miss shortstop. She would score on a sacrifice fly by Marnitz to make it a 3-1 Rebel lead.
UM plated a run in the fifth to go on top 4-1, but the Cats made it a one-run game when they scored a pair of runs in the home half of the sixth on Campbell?s eighth homerun of the year. Johnson had doubled to lead off the inning and helped the Wildcats make it a 4-3 affair.
Ole Miss added an insurance run in the seventh when Lauren Grill scored on Lisa Conchos? RBI- double.
The Cats attempted a comeback in the final inning. Natalie Smith belted her first collegiate home run with one out to make it a 5-4 score, but that was as close as they would come as Becky Nye retired the side and Ole Miss held on for the one-run win.
Campbell was 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. Johnson finished 1-for-4 with two runs scored, while Smith was 3-for-4 with a run scored and one RBI. Eckman added two hits in the loss.
Jennifer Young took the loss after giving up one earned run on four hits in 5.1 innings of work. She moves to 4-6 on the year with the loss.
The Wildcats and Rebels will meet for the rubber game of the series on Sunday afternoon. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
