KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The University of Kentucky dropped a 4-2 decision in the opening game of a doubleheader Wednesdayafternoon at UTs Tyson Park.
Kentucky jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the second inning when third baseman Rachel Friberg nailed UT pitcher StephanieHumphreys first pitch to right field for a leadoff double. Senior Tiffany Kruse followed with a walk, first baseman Andy Eilertsonmoved both runners up, and Friberg scored when designated player Jen Howland hit a sacrifice fly to right field.
The Lady Vols evened the score in the bottom of the third inning as third baseman Carissa Roustan reached on an error by Fribergand scored from third base on senior Janette Koshells single to right field.
UK regained the lead in the fifth inning when sophomore Nikki Jones beat out an infield hit to shortstop, and came all the wayaround to score on senior slugger Leslie Kwiatkowskis double to left center.
The Wildcat lead was short-lived however, as Tennessee took the lead for good on the strength of two solo home runs. Roustanled off the home-half of the fifth inning with her third homer of the season. Two outs later Koshell put her second homer of the seasonover the fence in right field. UTs Humphrey held UK hitless over the final two innings to pick up her seventh win of the season againstfive losses.
Kwiatkowski was 2-3 with a single and a double, while recording one RBI. Sophomore Morgan Marr took the loss, falling to 9-7 onthe season.
Kentucky snapped a four-game losing streak in the nightcap by downing the Lady Vols 7-4. In the process the Cats recorded theirfifth win in six games against UT, dating back to last season.
Neither team managed to score until Kwiatkowskis two-out double to right field in the third inning scored Beth Fogle from firstbase. Fogle had struck out but managed to reach first base when the Tennessee catcher dropped the third strike and threw the ballaway trying to get the speedy Fogle at first base.
UT answered in the bottom of the third inning on consecutive singles by catcher Maura Mollett and first baseman Maria Torres.Mollett scored on an error by shortstop Angie Dal Pozzo. The Lady Vols failed to score the go-ahead run with two outs in the inningwhen pinch runner Nichole Johnson was gunned down at the plate on a throw from UK left fielder Tiffany Kruse.
Dal Pozzo led off the fourth inning with an infield single and scored the go-ahead run on Kruses double to the fence in right field.
The Cats put the game away by scoring four runs in the fifth inning. Fogle drew a lead-off walk, Jones singles, and catcher LyndseyAngus single scored Fogle. Dal Pozzo stepped to the plate and drilled a 2-2 pitch over the left field fence for a three-run home run anda 6-1 cushion for UK.
Tennessee (13-18, 3-5 SEC) scored two runs in the fifth on three singles, and the Lady Vols added another run on Nikki Sextonssolo home run in the sixth, but it was not enough. Wildcat hurler Jen Howland went the distance for UK to notch her fifth win against seven losses.
The Cats (15-17, 2-5 SEC) return home Saturday, March 24, for a noon doubleheader against the Ole Miss Rebels at the UKSoftball Complex The three-game series concludes Sunday, March 25, with a 1 p.m. contest.
