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The Kentucky softball team could not find its offense Sunday, falling in the final game of a Southeastern Conference series to the Arkansas Lady Razorbacks, 5-1, at the UK Softball Complex. UA hurler Heather Schlichtman kept the UK bats quiet for the second consecutive day, giving up only two hits and a walk while striking out 11 for the complete-game victory.

Schlichtman had a perfect game going through four innings before walking Emily Marks in the fifth. The Cats scored their lone run in the sixth, as Ashley Fertic took a pitch from the Schlichtman deep over the left field wall for her first career home run. Rachel Friberg, one of UK?s two seniors honored before the game, followed with a base hit, but it was all the offense Kentucky could muster the remainder of the afternoon.

The Lady Backs, however, jumped on the board early, as Schlichtman hurt UK on the offensive side of the ball with a second inning lead-off single. The senior rounded the bases for a 1-0 lead moments later on an RBI double from Shana Easley. UA tacked on a 4-0 advantage in the fourth courtesy of a Melissa Johnson three-run blast and added another insurance run in the fifth for the final 5-1 tally.

UK senior Crystalie Wolfe (5-1) took her first loss of the season on the mound, going four innings while giving up six Arkansas hits. Gretchen Prugh was impressive in relief, finishing the last three innings with only one surrendered hit.

The Cats return to action on Wednesday in Lexington, when they face the Indiana Hoosiers in a doubleheader at the UK Softball Complex. The meeting will mark the last two home games for the Cats in 2004 before they travel to Auburn, Ala., over the weekend to wrap-up season play.