April 25, 2001
BOWLING GREEN, Ky.–The University of Kentucky softball team dropped two one-run decisions to in-state rival Western Kentucky, 5-4 and 6-5, Wednesday evening at the WKU Softball Field.
The opener started out as a pitcher’s duel as both teams combined for only five hits through the first four innings.
The Wildcats opened the scoring in the top of the fifth inning when Andy Eilertson lined her sixth double of the season to the gap in left-center field and came around to score when Jen Howland followed with a single to center field.
WKU answered with a run in the bottom of the fifth to tie the score at 1-1. Kristalyn Smith led off the inning with a single back up the middle, moved to second on a passed ball, and scored on Riley Garcia’s single.
The Lady Toppers took the lead in the bottom of the sixth when Jessie Richardson drew a one-out walk, stole second base, and scored on Angie Head’s double to the fence in left-center field.
Kentucky tied the score in the top of the seventh when Eilertson was hit by a Veronica Giddens’ pitch, moved to third on Fogle’s single to center field, and stole home one batter later to knot the score.
The score remained tied at 2-2 going into inning eight and the international tie-breaker rule was invoked, with Lyndsey Angus placed at second base to start the inning. The Wildcats missed an opportunity to score when they loaded the bases with no outs and failed to push any runs across.
The Lady Toppers also loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning and appeared to have the game won when UK catcher Angus threw the ball into right field after a force out at the plate, but the umpire ruled interference on the WKU runner sliding home and the Cats were out of the inning.
UK plated two runs in the top of the ninth to go ahead 4-2, but could not hold the lead as the Hilltoppers scored three runs in the bottom of the inning to pull out the win.
UK’s Morgan Marr absorbed the loss to fall to 15-13 on the season for UK.
The Wildcats jumped out in front early in the nightcap. Leaslie Kwiatkowski led off with a walk and scored on Angie Dal Pozzo’s double to center field.
The Lady Toppers loaded the bases with no outs and went on to score four runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Kentucky cut the deficit to 4-3 in the top of the third inning when Nikki Jones led off with a bunt single. One out later Dal Pozzo doubled to right field, and Tiffany Kruse followed with a walk to load the bases. Andy Eilertson then smoked a single over the second baseman’s head, scoring both Jones and Dal Pozzo.
Western Kentucky added two runs in the bottom of the fifth on three hits and one Wildcat error.
The Wildcats again came back, scoring two runs in the top of the sixth. Jen Howland singled with two outs and scored on Fogle’s triple to left center. The deficit was cut to 6-5 when Kwiatkowski doubled to left, scoring Fogle from third. Kwiatkowski was caught in a rundown between second and third and tagged out for the third out.
UK could not score in the seventh and fell 6-5
The Wildcats (24-29, 7-15 Southeastern Conference) return to SEC action Saturday, April 28, when they play host to the Auburn Tigers in a noon doubleheader.
R H EKentucky 000 010 102 4 10 0Western Ky. 000 011 003 5 10 2
WP-Giddens (10-9) and Garcia, LP-Marr (15-13) and Angus ,2B-Eilertson, Gomes, Palmer, Smith, SH-Howland, Fogle,SB-Kwiatkowski, Eilertson, Fogle, Richardson,CS- Fogle (2), Garcia
R H EKentucky 102 002 0 5 9 4Western Ky. 400 020 X 6 7 1
WP-Silver (8-11) and Garcia, LP-Lovell (4-5) and Angus,2B-Dal Pozzo, Kwiatkowski, Searle, Giddens,3B-Fogle, SH-Gomes (2), Tudor, SB-KwiatkowskiRecords- UK (24-29),WKU (20-28)
