The Kentucky softball team dropped its first game of the year tonight, Feb. 10, as it fell 5-1 to No. 18 Baylor at the Getterman Classic in Waco, Texas. The Wildcats fall to 3-1 on the year, while Baylor stays undefeated with a 4-0 record.
It took the Gatorade High School National Player of the Year to do it, but Brooke Marnitz?s NCAA record hitting streak was snapped when Kirsten Shortridge struck out the senior shortstop in her first at-bat against No. 18 Baylor. Marnitz snapped a streak of reaching base in 17 consecutive plate appearances and the NCAA record for hits in consecutive at-bats at 12. Marnitz had not been kept off base since May 6, 2006, against Mississippi State.
Baylor got on the board in the bottom of the second when Chelsi Lake hit a leadoff homerun over the left field wall off UK starter Megan Jolly to give the Lady Bears a 1-0 lead. It was the first hit allowed by either team. Jolly retired the side in order following the solo homer.
The Lady Bears threatened to score in the bottom of the fourth, but the Wildcat defense came up big. Right fielder Destinee Mordecai nailed Ashley Monceaux at second as she tried to stretch a single into a double. That play moved Lake who had singled with one out to third base, but she would go no further as Mordecai charged a sinking fly ball to right to end the scoreless inning.
Senior Katie Campbell singled sharply to third to lead off the fifth inning for the first hit of the day off of Shortridge. Molly Johnson followed with a deep fly ball off the wall in center field to score pinch runner Jenny Sibert all the way from first to make it a 1-1 game.
After holding BU scoreless for three innings, the Wildcats were unable to stop the speed of Tiffany Wesley who walked, went to second on a groundout and stole third. The Cats caught Wesley in a rundown but the freshman beat the throw to home to put the Lady Bears on top 2-1. Reliever Jennifer Young started the inning and walked three batters to force head coach Eileen Schmidt to the bullpen for Samantha Allen with runners at first and second. Monceaux homered to right field on the first pitch she saw to make it a 5-1 Baylor lead.
Mordecai drew a two-out walk in the top of the seventh, but would advance no further as Fertic grounded out to third to end the game.
Young took the loss for Kentucky after giving up the go-ahead run on three walks in 0.1 innings pitched. She is now 2-1 on the year after earning both Wildcat wins on Friday. Jolly made a quality start for the Wildcats, allowing just one earned run on five hits and striking out three in 5.0 innings of work.
Molly Johnson went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI, while Eckman, Campbell and Florence each singled in the loss.
The Wildcat defense continued to play well and has not committed an error in the field in four contests this season.
The Wildcats wrap up play at the Getterman Classic Sunday morning when they take on these same Baylor Bears. First pitch is set for 9 a.m. Fans can access live stats and free live audio streaming of the game by visiting www.UKAthletics.com.
