The University of Kentucky softball team dropped a Southeastern Conference doubleheader to No. 13 LSU today, Mar. 25, at the UK Softball Complex. The Tigers took game one by a score of 5-2 and won game two by the run-rule with a 13-2 final in five innings. The Cats fall to 14-15 overall and 2-9 in the SEC, while LSU is now 30-5 with a 6-2 league record.
The Tigers took an early lead with two runs on two hits, including a two-run double, in the top of the first in game one.
The Wildcats plated a run in the top of the third after Brooke Marnitz doubled to left center to lead off the frame. She moved to third on an error by the LSU second baseman and scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by Katie Campbell to make it a 2-1 game.
UK starter Jessica Trueblood retired seven straight batters and stranded three baserunners in the fourth inning. Following a scoreless fifth, the Tigers added a run on Stephanie Hill?s solo homer in the top of the sixth to take a 3-1 lead.
LSU made it a 5-1 lead with two runs on a solo homer, an RBI double and a Wildcat error in the top of the seventh.
Marnitz belted her team-leading fifth home run of the season with two outs in the top of the seventh, but that was as close as the Cats would come as LSU took the opening game by the final of 5-2.
Marnitz went 3-for-4 with a homer, two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI. Meghan Cooper hit her sixth double of the season and Ashley Fertic singled to account for the Wildcats? five hits.
The Tigers had 10 hits on the day off Trueblood who took the loss and fell to 5-8 on the year. Trueblood allowed four earned runs and struck out three in the complete game outing.
The Tigers went to work early again in the night cap, scoring three runs on three hits in the top of the first to take the early three-run lead. LSU added two runs in the third inning, followed four in the fourth to take a 9-0 lead.
Campbell was hit by a pitch with one out in the fourth and scored when Fertic belted her third homer of the season over the left field wall to cut the LSU lead to 9-2.
The Tigers added a four-spot in the top of the fifth to take a 13-2 advantage.
The Cats attempted a rally in the home half of the inning as Marnitz led off with a walk. Megan Miller followed with an infield single and the bases were loaded when Campbell reached on a fielder?s choice. However, all three runners were stranded as Fertic and Gina Florence were called out on strikes to end the rally and the game after five innings of play.
Miller finished 2-for-3 at the plate, while Fertic was 1-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs. Amy Kendall was credited with the loss after giving up three runs on three hits in an inning of work. She walked one and struck one as she fell to 5-6 on the year. The Cats tied a season-high as four pitchers went to the mound for the Wildcats.
The SEC series concludes on Sunday, Mar. 26, with a single game. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. at the UK Softball Complex.
