The University of Kentucky softball team split its conference-opening doubleheader against Georgia Wednesday afternoon at the UKSoftball Complex. In the opening game Wildcat pitcher Morgan Marr scattered four hits over seven innings and gave up one run asKentucky downed the visiting Bulldogs 4-1.UK catcher Lyndsey Angus went 3-3 at the plate, with a double and two singles. Marrlowered her team-leading ERA to 1.83 on the season while recording her ninth complete game in as many outings.
Georgia got on the board first when Alyssa Mauro scored from first base on a two-out double by catcher JulieRaiskums in the top of thesecond inning. The Cats broke loose when junior Jen Howland led off the third inning with a single to center field and moved to third assecond baseman Nikki Jones reached second on a throwing error by Bulldogs pitcher Nichole Urban. Howland scored on a Beth Foglesacrifice fly to center, while Jones moved to third and scored as UGA center fielder Nicole Barbers throw went into the UK dugout.
The Wildcats closed out the scoring by adding two more runs in the bottom half of the fourth inning. Shortstop Angie Dal Pozzo beat outan infield single and moved to second as Tiffany Kruse reached first base on a throwing error by Georgia third baseman Kristen Bell.Andy Eilertson sacrificed Dal Pozzo to third base and Kruse to second. Both runners crossed the plate on a Howland single to centerfield. Howland recorded two singles and two RBIs in the opening game.
With the win Marr improved to 6-3 on the season.In the nightcap the Bulldogs jumped out in front early, scoring in the top of the first inning on Alyssa Mauros first career home run, atwo-run shot over the fence in center field. Catcher Julie Raiskums came in to score from second on the homer. The visitors fromAthens, Ga. added four more runs in the second inning when Julie Milner reached base on a hard hit ball that UKs Rachel Friberg couldnot handle. Milner stole second. Melanie Robertson singled to left, stole second and both runners scored on a Nichole Barber single.Two batters later, Raiskums tripled to score Barber and Monique Rhoden.
The Cats answered with four runs in the bottom of the second when shortstop Angie Dal Pozzo drilled a two-run home run overthe left-field fence after Friberg led off with a bunt single. UK loaded the bases on a Monique Lovell walk, a Howland single to center,and an intentional walk to right fielder Leslie Kwiatkowski. Nikki Jones singled to left field, scoring both Lovell and Howland.
UGA (19-9, 1-1 SEC) scored what turned out to be the winning run in the fourth inning as Raiskums singled with two outs to scoreMichelle Tyree from second. UK chipped away at the Bulldog lead by scoring two runs on three consecutive singles by Lovell,Howland, and Fogle. Kwiatkowski grounded out to second, scoring Lovell. Jones was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Angus was alsohit by a Kendra Daniels pitch to force in Howland from third base. Georgia escaped further harm as Friberg and Dal Pozzo struck out toend the threat. The Bulldogs added two runs in the seventh inning to put the game away as Tyree tripled to left field to score Milner andpinch runner Kirsten Vaughn.
Howland (3-6) took the loss for the Wildcats.
“It was nice to start out with a win in the first game,” UK coach Beth Kirchner said. “We put the ball in play and played gooddefense in both games.”
UK (9-11, 1-1 SEC) returns to action Friday, March 9, as the Wildcats host the UKIT. Kentucky will face Kent State in a 5 p.m.contest.
