April 16, 2002

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score

RICHMOND, Ky. –
Andy Eilertson’s two-out RBI double in the top of the eighth and a seven-run fifth inning propelled the University of Kentucky to a doubleheader sweep of Bluegrass foe Eastern Kentucky, 4-3 and 9-2, on Tuesday, April 16 at EKU’s Hood Field. The pair of wins upped the Wildcats record to 21-23 while the Colonels drop to 24-11.

Junior Morgan Marr (5-8) picked up the win in relief of senior Jennifer Howland in game one with 1.2 innings of hitless ball while freshman Meghan Cooper (10-8) pitched a five-hit complete game for the game two victory. EKU’s Jonelle Csora (15-6) and Jessica Soto (8-3)took the losses for the Colonels.

UK senior Angie Dal Pozzo finished the doubleheader 4-for-8 with two runs scored and an RBI while freshman Megan Brooks and sophomore Rachel Friberg (2-for-6) each pushed across a team-high three RBI. Howland finished with three runs scored.

EKU’s Jennifer Norris paced the Colonels by going 2-for-5 with three RBI.

“I was pleased with the way we hit today,” UK Coach Beth Kirchner said. “I was also very pleased with what we saw defensively. We turned two critical double plays to slow down their momentum and limited our mistakes.”

Eastern got on the board first in the opener, scoring a run in the bottom of the first on an RBI double by Norris for the quick 1-0 lead.

The Cats responded by lighting up the scoreboard three times in the top of the fourth for the two-run advantage, 3-1. Senior Sandi Dengler (2-for-8, 2 runs) led off with a double to left center and moved up to third as Eilertson reached on a fielding error by EKU’s Jen Christiansen in right field. Friberg then hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Dengler and move Eilertson up to second. Howland???sup>TMs RBI double to left scored Eilertson and then she came home on another Colonel error in the outfield.

The Colonels would not go away, however, posting solo runs in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings for the 3-3 tie.

After a scoreless sixth and top half of the seventh, Eastern threatened to end the game in the bottom of the seventh. Howland allowed a leadoff single to Christiansen, which was followed by a sacrifice bunt by Diana Barreras. Elise Burch’s bunt single moved Christiansen to third and chased UK starter Howland (6.1 IP, 3 R) from the game. Marr entered and enticed Norris to line out to short before loading the bases by walking Amber Berthoud with two out. Amy Herrington then stepped to the plate but Marr lured her to foul out to Eilertson in right field.

Dal Pozzo was placed on second to start the top of the eighth as the teams went to the international tie-breaking procedure. Csora retired the first two hitters before Eilertson drilled her offering to the wall with the game-winning run.

The second game had a different feel to it from the start. UK scored a run in the first and second for the quick 2-0 lead before exploding in the fifth. The Cats sent 11 hitters to the plate in the top of the fifth, scoring seven runs on four singles, three doubles and two batters hit by pitch. Brooks inflicted the most damage as she had a bases-clearing double to left center break open the game.

Junior Nikki Jones led off the game with a double down the left field line but was injured sliding into second. Brooks replaced Jones in the lineup and scored the game’s first run as junior Lyndsey Angus (3-for-7, 2 RBI) reached on a fielder’s choice.

UK’s second run came thanks to a Dal Pozzo double down the left field line, scoring Howland, who had led off the inning with a single to right and moved to second as Brooks drew a base on balls.

EKU avoided the eight-run mercy rule by scoring two unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth for the final margin.

UK’s two double plays in the game gave them 26 on the year, establishing a new team record.

The Wildcats will return to action on Saturday, April 20 as they plays host to No. 5 LSU at the UK Softball Complex in a Southeastern Conference match-up. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. EDT.

Game OneKentucky          00030001-4 7 0Eastern Ky.10011000-3 9 2WP: Marr (5-8). LP: Csora (15-6). S: none.

Game TwoKentucky 1100700-9 14 4Eastern Ky.0000200-2 5 0WP: Cooper (10-8). LP: Soto (8-3). S: none.

-UK-