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The Kentucky softball team split a doubleheader with against Western Kentucky today, Apr. 13, at the UK Softball Complex. The Wildcats fell 5-2 in the opener but defeated the Hilltoppers, 4-2, in the nightcap.
Kentucky moves to 18-32 on the year, while WKU is now 22-13 after the split.
UK fell behind in the second game when the Hilltoppers scored twice in the fifth on a two-run single by Dana Rey.
The Wildcats answered in the sixth as Brooke Marnitz led off with a single and moved to second on a throwing error by the center fielder. She would score on Amber Janneck?s single to right field to cut the WKU lead to one run. Janneck came around to score on a base hit by Jessica Nance. Meghan Cooper reached on a fielder?s choice and scored later in the inning on Callie Kovacs? RBI single.
Amy Kendall relieved Kristi Warneke in the sixth and retired all six batters she faced. She earned the win to move to 2-3 on the year. Warneke allowed two earned runs on four hits in 5.0 innings of work.
Nance went 2-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI. She also recorded her team-leading 11th stolen base of the season.
The Wildcat defense turned a double play in each game, giving it 19th twin killings on the year.
In the opening game, UK took an early 2-0 lead in the fourth on Lori Melchi?s first homer of the season. Emily Marks walked earlier in the inning and scored on the two-run shot by Melchi.
WKU cut the lead in half in the fifth scoring a run on two hits, but got out of the inning by turning their 18th double play of the season. The Hilltoppers took the lead for good in the sixth after plating four runs on five hits and a UK error to go on for the 5-2 win.
The Wildcats outhit WKU, 9-8, including two hits each by Marnitz, Ashley Fertic and Katie Campbell. Marnitz, Cooper and Campbell each had a double in the loss. However, UK stranded eight baserunners to come up short in the opening game.
?I didn?t really think we came to play today, but we were lucky to salvage the win,? said head coach Eileen Schmidt. ?We need to give a better effort tomorrow from the beginning against Louisville.?
The Wildcats host the Cardinals on Thursday, Apr. 14, in Lexington. The single game is set to begin at 4 p.m.
