DAVIS, Calif. ? The Kentucky softball team defeated UC-Davis today, Feb. 25, by a score of 8-2 in their final game of the Aggie Invitational in Davis, Calif. The Wildcats used a four-run fifth inning to top the Aggies and improve to 7-3 on the year, while UCD falls to 5-4.
The Aggies scored the first run of the game in the third, but the Wildcats knotted the score in the fourth on an RBI double to deep right field by Ashley Fertic.
The Wildcats broke open the 1-1 tie when they batted around in the fifth. Audrey Meyer drew a base on balls followed by Natalie Smith who reached on a fielder?s choice. Both would come around to score on a double to left center by Brooke Marnitz to make it a 3-1 UK lead. Molly Johnson added a single and went to second on a throwing error by the UCD shortstop. Katie Campbell then delivered a two-run single to shortstop to add two more Wildcat runs and make it a 5-1 advantage.
The Kentucky bats weren?t done as the Wildcats plated three runs in the home half of the sixth. Destinee Mordecai led off the inning with a single to left and Meyer reached on a sacrifice bunt. Marnitz cleared the bases and gave the Cats a seven-run cushion with a three-run shot over the wall in left center to put UK on top 8-1.
The Aggies attempted a comeback in the top of the seventh. UCD added a run, but after a shaky start, the UK defense shut down the UCD offense as the Cats held on for the six-run win.
Amber Matousek tossed a complete game for the Wildcats en route to her third straight win. Matousek is now 3-0 on the year after allowing no earned runs on three hits in 7.0 innings of work. She struck out four batters on the day.
Marnitz finished 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and five RBI, while Campbell went 3-for-4 at the dish with two RBIs. Fertic added two hits and an RBI in the Wildcat win.
UK returns to action next weekend, Mar. 3-4, when it hosts the second annual Frostbite Classic. Evansville, Butler and IUPUI make up the four-team field that will play eight games over the two-day span at the UK Softball Complex.
