April 7, 2000

LEXINGTON, Kty. — The University of Kentucky softball team broke the school record for winsin a season with a 1-0 victory in eight innings over the 18th-ranked SouthCarolina Lady Gamecocks in the opening game of a doubleheader. In thesecond game, the Cats fell to USC, 4-2.

UK hurler Keary Camunas squared off against USC All-American pitcher MeganMatthews in the first game in what turned out to be an eight inningpitching duel.

UK (24-18, 6-4 SEC) had several chances, stranding runners in scoringposition in the second, third, and fourth innings. The only time USC got arunner past first base was in the sixth inning when Joyce McMillin advancedto second on Jodi Fittro’s single to center. The following two battersflied out as UK escaped a potential jam.

In the eighth inning, Nikki Jones reached when she was hit by a Matthews’pitch. Center fielder Beth Fogle sacrificed Jones to second. With Jones onsecond and two out, catcher Lyndsey Angus walked sending UK’s leadinghitter Leslie Kwiatkowski to the plate. Kwiatkowski hit a game-winning twoout RBI-single to center, scoring Jones from second to give UK a 1-0victory, the Cats’ first win over a top-25 team this season.

Last season, UK finished 23-44, the best record in school history. TheCats have improved its record each season since the program began in 1997.

Camunas struck out three batters, while improving to 13-9 on the season,one win shy of her school record for wins in a season. Matthews struck outtwo batters, falling to 16-11.

Junior Tiffany Kruse tripled to left center to lead off the second inning,breaking the UK single-season record for triples in a season with seven.

In the second game, the Cats fell behind in the first inning when the LadyGamecocks put two runs across off UK starting pitcher Morgan Marr.

However, Jen Howland’s two-run single down the left field line scoredKruse from third and Angie Dal Pozzo from second, tying the game, 2-2.

USC third baseman Sondra Hall broke the tie in the top of the fifth whenshe doubled to left center. McMillin and Kendra McCutcheon scored to giveUSC (28-16, 9-8) a 4-2 lead.

UK loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, as Angusstepped up the plate. Angus hit a shot to left field but her line drive wascaught by Fittro to end the Cats’ threat and give USC the victory.

Matthews came in to relieve USC starter McMillin with one out in the thirdinning and picked up the win, improving to 17-11. Marr dropped to 5-4 withthe loss. Angus and Fogle recorded two hits apiece for UK.

UK and USC will close out the four-game series with a doubleheader onSaturday, April 7 at the UK Softball Complex. The doubleheader will beginat 1 p.m.

R H EUSC 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 – 0 2 1UK 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 – 1 5 0

WP – Camunas (13-9) and AngusLP – Matthews (16-11) and Genovese.2B – Dal Pozzo (UK)

R H EUSC 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 – 4 9 2UK 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 – 2 8 2

WP – McMillin, Matthews (17-11) and GenoveseLP – Marr (5-4), Camunas and Angus.2B – McMillin (USC), Hall (USC).

Records – USC (28-16, 9-8 SEC), UK (24-18, 6-4 SEC).