The Kentucky Wildcats opened the 2005 softball season with a 0-2 record in the opening day of Florida International?s Diamond Fun & Sun Classic in Miami, Fla. UK fell to No. 21 South Florida (1-1) in its first game of the tournament, despite a seventh-inning rally, before dropping a 4-0 decision to host-team FIU (2-0).
The Wildcats struggled defensively in the opening contest, committing an error in each of the first three innings. The Bulls took advantage of the mishaps, scoring a pair in the first and again in the third to take a 4-0 lead on four unearned runs off junior starter Meghan Cooper.
The shutout stood until the Cats rallied in the top of the final inning. Designated player Emily Marks singled to lead off the inning, followed by a base hit by right fielder Alli Eckman. Centerfielder Jessica Nance reached on a fielder?s choice as pinch runner Jenny Sibert was tagged out at third. Amber Janneck drew a base on balls to load the bases for Cooper who helped her own cause with a single to right field to score a pair of runs and break up the shutout. UK added a run and put runners at second and third on a run-scoring single by Katie Campbell to cut the lead to 4-3. Megan Glenn popped up to the second baseman to end the rally and the game, as the Cats dropped the one-run decision.
Cooper collected a pair of hits and two RBIs to lead the Cats at the plate. On the mound, she gave up no earned runs on six hits and struck out two in 6.0 innings of work. Kentucky outhit the Bulls, 8-6, as Janneck, Campbell, Glenn, Ashley Fertic, Marks and Eckman each added a hit in the loss.
In the nightcap, the Wildcat errors proved to be costly again as the Panthers scored twice in the second and a pair in the fifth, with each aided by a UK error. Freshman Samantha Allen made her first collegiate start against FIU, allowing two earned runs on seven hits with three strikeouts in 5.0 innings.
Cooper continued her hot hitting with two base hits in the loss. Cooper added a stolen base, while pinch hitter Jenny Sibert recorded the only other hit for the Cats in the game.
UK returns to action Saturday, Feb. 5, when it faces Illinois State (1-1) at 10 a.m. The Cats also face Auburn (1-1) at 2 p.m.
