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The University of Kentucky softball team (9-3-1) won its first two games of the Kentucky Spring Invite Saturday behind shutout pitching performances from sophomores Amy Kendall and Meghan Cooper. The Cats defeated Youngstown State (1-1) in the first game 3-0 before taking the second game over Northern Iowa (2-5), 1-0, on a walk-off home run by senior Rachel Friberg.
Against the Penguins, the Cats got on the board in the top of the fifth inning to take a 1-0 lead. Freshman Ashley Fertic singled and with two outs, she attempted to steal second. The YSU catcher?s throw went into the outfield, allowing Fertic to reach third. Youngstown?s pitcher Karlie Burnell hurled one into the dirt that got by the catcher and Fertic raced home to give UK the lead.
That was all Kentucky would need, as Kendall (3-3) pitched a three-hitter, striking out eight, for her third win of the year. UK would score a couple insurance runs in the top of the sixth. With freshman Brooke Marnitz on first and Cooper on third, Marnitz took off for second. On the ensuing throw from the catcher, Cooper ran home, diving ahead of the throw to the plate. The errant throw got by the catcher, and Marnitz made it safely to third. The next batter was Kendall, and her soft grounder to second gave Marnitz plenty of time to make it home for the 3-0 lead. Cooper and Fertic each went 2-3 in the game.
The game against the Northern Iowa Panthers was a pitcher?s duel until the very end. The first hit of the game was not given up until sophomore Lori Melchi doubled to the fence in centerfield in the bottom of the third. The Cats however could not bring her home. Cooper doubled to about the same place the next inning but was stranded.
On the mound, Cooper (4-0) flirted with a no-hitter until Erin Strellner laced a double to right-center in the top of the sixth. Cooper would give up only one more hit, a single in the seventh, and would earn her fourth win and first shutout of the year.
In dramatic fashion, with the score tied at zero in the bottom of the seventh inning, leadoff batter Rachel Friberg took the very first pitch and blasted it over the left field fence. It was her first home run of the year and gave the Cats the 1-0 win.
Kentucky will play Ball State at 1 p.m. on Sunday and then play in the consolation of championship game at 3 p.m. or 5 p.m.
In the other games of the tournament, Youngstown State defeated Ball State 3-0 and Northern Iowa also defeated the Cardinals, 5-1.
