April 27, 2002

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

AUBURN, Ala. – Kentucky scored eight unearned runs in the first game to snap a 10-game Southeastern Conference losing streak as the Wildcats downed host Auburn, 8-5, in the opener of an SEC softball doubleheader. The Tigers responded, however, with a 6-1 victory as Kristen Keyes allowed just two hits in the game. The Wildcats (22-30, 4-19) had their hopes of making a third consecutive SEC Tournament dashed with the loss in game two. The Tigers (32-21, 10-13) are now one step closer to securing their bid.

Wildcat pitcher Meghan Cooper earner her 11th win of the season against 10 losses as the freshman allowed just five runs in the complete game outing. Senior Jennifer Howland suffered the loss in game two, dropping to 6-10 on the year. Auburn’s Jen Lofton (10-11) was held accountable from the circle in game one while Keyes (17-10) was the victor in the second game.

Freshman Jessica Nance’s two-out, three-run home run down the leftfield line in the bottom of the fourth inning of the first game extended the Wildcats lead to 8-4 and propelled UK to the victory. Again it was shoddy defense by the Tigers that allowed the Cats to stay alive in the inning. Angus walked to start off the inning and then moved to second as Eilertson laid down a sacrifice bunt that saw the throw go wide of first, allowing both her and Angus to move up an extra base. Two batters later, Dengler stroked a one out single to left, scoring Angus.

Auburn had started off very quickly in game, stringing together a single, a walk and three doubles for a quick 4-0 lead after the first. Sara Dean, Deni Zeigler and Martha Phillips were the two-bag culprits, with Dean driving in two runs and Zeigler and Phillips each collecting one RBI.

UK answered with four unearned runs in the top of the third to knot that game at 4-4. Freshman Megan Brooks drew a one-out walk, moved up to second as senior Beth Fogle laid down a sacrifice bunt, but reached safely as AU third baseman Lindsey Chitwood threw the ball away trying to get her at first, allowing Fogle and Brooks to each advance a base. Senior Jennifer Howland then drove in Brooks with a single to left. Senior Andy Eilertson kept things going for the Blue and White as she too laid down a sacrifice but made it safely as Lofton threw it away trying to get her at first, allowing Fogle to score from third. The final damage of the inning came as senior Sandi Dengler broke out of a 2-for-19 slump with a line drive, two-RBI triple to the wall in right center, scoring both Howland and Eilertson.

Dengler and Nance each finished the game 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored. Howland went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

The Tigers jumped on top first again in the second game, scoring three runs on two base hits in the bottom of the third. Sara Dean drilled a lead off home run to get the inning started. Martha Phillips drew a one-out walk and moved to second as Shannon Anderson was hit by a pitch. Ashley Moore than drew a two-out walk, and both runners came home on Kelly Sutton’s double down the leftfield line for the 3-0 lead.

After Auburn tacked on single runs in the bottom of third and fourth innings, the Cats tried to claw their way back in it. Howland’s two-out RBI single broke up Keyes no-hitter and shutout, scoring Nance from third, who had walked to start the inning.

The Wildcats and Tigers will conclude the series at noon CT on Sunday, April 28.

Game OneKentucky        0040400-8   7 0Auburn          4000100-5 11 4WP: Cooper (11-10). LP: Lofton (10-11). S: none.

Game TwoKentucky 0000100-1 2 1Auburn 031110X-6 9 1WP: Keyes (17-10). LP: Howland (6-10). S: none.

-UK-