OXFORD, Miss. ? The University of Kentucky softball team dropped a pair of one-run games today, Apr. 29, at Ole Miss to fall to 21-32 on the year and 4-22 in Southeastern Conference play. The Rebels took game one by a final of 2-1 and won the finale by a score of 1-0. UM improves to 19-34 overall with a 5-20 mark in league play.
The Wildcats got on the board first with a run in the top of the third inning. Lori Melchi reached on a bunt single to lead off the inning and scurried to second when Meghan Cooper reached on a fielding error by the Ole Miss third baseman. Melchi plated the game?s first run on a single up the middle by Katie Campbell to give UK the 1-0 lead.
UK starter Jessica Trueblood retired the side in order through the fist four innings and did not allow a hit until a single in the third. Campbell erased that baserunner with a strike down to second on a steal attempt by Kayla Mosley to end the third inning.
The Rebels took a one-run lead in the home half of the fifth. Trueblood hit Lauren Rowe to lead off the inning and runners went to second and third on a double to left by Michelle May. Both would come around to score on a two-out double by Erin Faircloth to give UM the 2-1 lead.
The Cats had runners in scoring position in the final two innings, but couldn?t score as the Rebels held on for the one-run victory.
Kentucky outhit Ole Miss by a margin of 6-3. Melchi finished 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Campbell was 2-for-3 with her 41st RBI of the season.
Trueblood (8-17) was tagged with the loss after giving up two earned runs on three hits in 6.0 innings of work. The freshman struck out four and walked one batter. The Salem, Ore., native retired the side in order in five of the six innings she tossed.
Dana Brill got the win to improve to 10-14 after allowing one unearned run on six hits and striking out nine.
The second game of the afternoon was a pitcher?s duel. UK starter Amy Kendall didn?t allow a hit until a leadoff single by Mary Jane Callahan in the top of the fourth. Callahan went to second on a fielder?s choice and scored on a sacrifice fly by Lauren Rowe to give the Rebels a 1-0 lead.
Kentucky threatened to score in the fifth but left the bags loaded with Wildcats to end the inning. Campbell and Gina Florence both singled in the inning and Brooke Marnitz drew a walk. Campbell was thrown out at the plate on Megan Glenn?s fielder?s choice and Ali Ray struck out to end the threat.
The score remained 1-0 when the Wildcats came to bat in the top of the seventh. Callahan got a pop up to third base and struck out a pair to end the game and hand the Cats their second loss of the day.
Kendall pitched well for the Cats, but got the loss to see her record move to 8-10. Kendall tossed a complete game and gave up just two hits while striking out four.
Callahan (9-16) also had a two-hit complete-game and struck out eight en route to her ninth victory of the season.
The three-game series concludes on Sunday, Apr. 30, with a single game. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
