DAVIS, Calif. ? The Kentucky softball team swept a doubleheader today, Feb. 23, in the opening day of play at the UC Aggie Invitational in Davis, Calif. UK topped host-team UC-Davis (5-3) who had won five straight by a final of 5-3. The Cats then took six innings to run-rule Saint Mary?s (2-4), by a score of 13-5, in the nightcap. The Wildcats improve to 5-2 on the year with the sweep.
Despite a wardrobe malfunction resulting in having to wear cleats two sizes too small, senior Katie Campbell belted two homeruns in the Wildcats? win over Saint Mary?s to become the all-time leader at Kentucky with 21 career homers. Campbell is the first Wildcat to homer twice in a game since former homerun leader Amber Janneck did it on Feb. 19, 2005, against Texas State.
The Cats jumped out to an early lead in game two. Audrey Meyer doubled to lead off the first and scored on an RBI single to right by Molly Johnson.
Saint Mary?s took a brief lead with two runs in the top of the second, but the Wildcats had the answer with five runs in the home half of the frame.
Campbell led off the inning with a solo home run to tie the game at 2-2 and make her Kentucky?s all-time leader. Becky Bishop was hit by a pitch and Destinee Mordecai followed with a base on balls. Meyer singled to load the bases for Natalie Smith who tripled to right field to clear the bags. Johnson then drove in her fourth run of the day with a sharp single to left to make it a four-run Wildcat lead at 6-2.
The Gaels chipped away at the lead with two runs in the third on a two-run homer by Lauren Mello and a solo homer in the fourth by Sandra Ruezga to make it a 6-5 Kentucky advantage.
Kentucky pushed its lead back to two in the fourth when Ashley Fertic delivered a run-scoring single to shortstop to drive in Natalie Smith who had singled to lead off the inning.
Strong pitching from starter Amber Matousek and reliever Lindsay Brogdon kept the Wildcat lead at two until the offense exploded in the bottom of the sixth. The Cats batted around for the second time in the game in the final inning en route to their third run-rule win of the year. Brooke Marnitz led off with a single and stole second. Johnson was hit by a pitch and both would come around to score on Campbell?s second homer of the day to give UK a 10-5 edge. Bishop reached on a fielder?s choice and went to second on a single up the middle by Mordecai. Bishop scored when Meyer reached on an error by the Saint Mary?s left fielder and Natalie Smith delivered the game-winning hit with a two-run single to center field as the Cats won by a final of 13-5.
Campbell went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBI. Smith finished 2-for-3 at the dish with two runs scored and a career-high five RBI. Meyer, Marnitz, Johnson and Fertic each finished with two hits apiece as the Cats collected 14 base hits in the win.
Matousek got the win on the mound for the Cats to improve to 2-0 on the year. She allowed four earned runs on five hits and struck out a career-high five batters in 4.0 innings of work. Brogdon tossed two innings of shutout relief and struck out two to earn her first save of the season.
The Wildcats also took an early lead in the top of the first against UC-Davis. Meyer led off with a single up the middle and scored on a two-run homer over the wall in center by Marnitz to make it a 2-0 Kentucky lead.
The UK defense sparkled in the home half of the inning. After a leadoff single and a flyout to third, the Cats turned an inning-ending double play to stop the Aggie rally.
UC-Davis cut the lead in half in the bottom of the fourth. Julie Stauder had a lead off single, stole second, went to third on a single and scored on a wild pitch. Kentucky pitcher Megan Jolly loaded the bases with a hit batter and a walk, but got out of the jam with a fly ball by Mandi Salcido to end the inning with UK leading 2-1.
The Aggies took the lead in the bottom of the fifth on a pair of hits. They threatened to add to the lead but an illegal re-entry erased a baserunner for UCD and a groundball to shortstop ended the inning with UCD leading 3-2.
The Wildcats quickly tied the game when Bishop belted a two-out homerun over the right field wall to knot the score at 3-3. It was the first homer of the season for Bishop.
UK broke the tie with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh. Smith roped a one-out single to right and moved to second on a single to left field by Marnitz. Campbell was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Johnson who delivered the game-winning single through the left side to put the Wildcats on top 5-3.
The Aggies attempted to rally in the seventh and got two runners on base with one out. Jennifer Young got a popup to second and then recorded a strikeout to end the game and give the Cats the comeback win.
Young got the win to move to 3-2 on the year after tossing 3.0 innings of shutout relief. The freshman gave up four hits and struck out one to earn the victory. Jolly allowed three runs on four hits in 4.0 innings of work for the Cats.
Marnitz and Johnson each finished with two hits and a pair of RBI. Marnitz was 2-for-4 with a home run and a single, scored twice and drove in two. Johnson finished 2-for-4 with two RBI and a stolen base.
The Wildcats return to action Saturday when they face Sacramento State at noon, followed by a 2 pm matchup with UC-Riverside.
