The Kentucky softball team dropped the rubber game of its Southeastern Conference series at Louisiana State today, Apr. 10, after splitting a Saturday doubleheader with the Tigers. The Wildcats fell by a final score of 18-0 to move to 17-31 on the year and 3-17 in conference play. With the win, LSU improves to 22-15 overall with a 6-12 mark in the SEC.
An 11-run first inning by the Tigers put the Wildcats in a big hole early in the game. The Tigers racked up 10 singles in the opening frame as 17 batters came to the dish to face a trio of UK pitchers in starter Amy Kendall, Samantha Allen and Meghan Cooper. Eight Tigers reached base before the first out was recorded on a strikeout by Allen.
The Tigers added five runs on four hits in the second to take a 16-0 lead and faced the fourth UK pitcher of the afternoon. Freshman Kristi Warneke entered in the second and got the final out of the inning with a grounder back to the mound.
Two more Tiger runs crossed the plate in the fourth after a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch in center field by Jessica Nance. The sacrifice fly drove in a pair to give LSU the 18-0 advantage.
Sophomore Amber Janneck collected the first hit of the game for Kentucky with a single off LSU?s Emily Turner in the top of the first. Turner retired 10 in a row after Janneck?s base hit and struck out eight during that span.
The Wildcats didn?t garner another hit until Nance?s leadoff single to left in the top of the fifth. Katie Campbell followed with a single to center to put runners at first and second with nobody out. Turner then struck out the side, giving her 11 on the day, to end the UK threat and the game in five innings thanks to the run rule.
Kendall took the loss for UK to move to 1-3 on the year. She allowed four earned runs on two hits on the day.
The Wildcats return to action when they host the Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky on Wednesday, Apr. 13, at the UK Softball Complex. The doubleheader is set to begin at 3 p.m. The Cats will host Louisville on Thursday, Apr. 14, in a single game at 4 p.m.
