The Kentucky softball team upset the 18th-ranked South Carolina Gamecocks 4-1 Saturday in game two of a doubleheader in Columbia, S.C. Despite a two-run home run the sixth inning from Rachel Friberg, UK came up a run short in a 3-2 loss in the first game of the day.
The Cats (19-19-1, 5-15 Southeastern Conference) scored one run each in the second through fifth innings for the victory. Jessica Nance came home twice in the stretch, scoring for the first time in the second after beating the throw home on a fielder?s choice from Katie Campbell. Nance scored for the second time after hitting a double to reach base in the fifth. The junior stole third, but a throw from catcher Ashley Smith was uncovered at the base and went into the outfield, allowing Nance to come home for a 4-0 advantage. Meghan Cooper also scored on a sacrifice fly from Brooke Marnitz in the third, and pinch runner Jenny Sibert provided another of UK?s runs after Friberg?s chopper to short was mishandled by USC with the bases loaded in the fourth.
Gretchen Prugh (3-5) was one hit away from a shutout, as the freshman held the Gamecocks without a run until the bottom of the seventh inning. USC (18-12, 7-10 SEC) loaded the bases, and with two outs, pinch hitter Tia Rogers hit an RBI single that scored Meghan Cornett. With the bases still juiced, the Cats yielded a chopper from Chrissy Schooonmaker and forced Rogers out at second to end the game. Prugh gave up only four hits while fanning four Gamecocks in only the third complete game of her career.
Amy Kendall (7-11) held the Gamecocks scoreless through three innings in game one, but USC tacked on two in the fourth. Samantha Jennings led off the inning with a two-base error, and McKenna Hughes followed by driving in the game?s first run with an RBI double to the right field wall. The Cats sat down the next two Gamecocks, but Nancy Crane made the game 2-0 with a hard-hit RBI single to third.
Friberg closed the margin to one with the homer after another USC run in the fifth, but it wasn?t enough, as the Cats fell to the Gamecocks 3-2. Friberg ended the game with one of Kentucky three hits in the contest, going 1-for-3 with two RBI?s and a run. The homer from the senior was her second of the year and the first all year given up by USC starting pitcher Stacey Johnson.
Johnson improved to 10-4 with the complete-game victory. Kendall took the loss, scattering nine hits while striking out four. Crane and Cornett teamed up for five hits in the game, as Crane went a perfect 3-for-3 with an RBI.
The Cats and Gamecocks return to action tomorrow with the third and final game of the series at for 1 p.m.
