Junior Leslie Kwiatkowski’s two home runs helps lead Cats to easy win.
RICHMOND, Ky. (March 1, 2000) — Led by junior LeslieKwiatkowski’s two home runs, the UK softballteam pushed its winning streak to three as the Catswhipped Eastern Kentucky, 12-4, on Wednesdayafternoon at Gertrude Hood Field.
Kwiatkowski, who hit a solo home run in the top ofthe first and a three-run blast in the top of the sixth,tied her own record for home runs in a game. TheSouth Bend, Ind. native also broke the UK schoolrecord for RBIs in a game with six and total basesin a game with nine. For the afternoon, she was 3-4and scored two runs.
The Colonels struck first in the bottom of the firstwhen Jessica Soto hit a two-run bomb over the leftfield fence, giving the Colonels a 2-0 lead.
Kwiatkowski answered Soto’s home run with asolo shot of her own to left center. UK (7-9) addedfive more runs in the top of the third inning to build a6-2 lead. In the top of the fourth, freshman LyndseyAngus’ RBI single put one run across, andKwiatkowski followed with a single to left field thatscored Angus and Nikki Jones, giving UK a 9-2lead.
EKU (4-6) catcher Kim Sarrazin hit a solo homerun to left center, but the Cats responded in the topof the sixth when Kwiatkowski hit her secondround-tripper of the game, a three-run shot over the left field fence as UKcruised to a 12-4 victory.
The Cats, who have not committed an error in their last two games, poundedout 13 hits against the Colonels. Five UK batters, including Kwiatkowski,recorded multiple hit games. Angus was 3-4 at the plate with an RBI andscored three runs. Jones was 2-4 and scored three runs, while Jen Howlandwent 2-3 and crossed the plate twice. Shortstop Angie Dal Pozzo added a2-2 performance with an RBI and scored a run.
Angus and Jones, who each scored three runs apiece, tied the UK mark forruns scored in a game with three.
“Our offense was outstanding today,” UK coach Beth Kirchner said. “It wasimminent that an offensive explosion was forthcoming. We are building somemomentum heading into our tournament this weekend, which we will need tobe successful.”
UK will travel to Bristol, Tenn. this weekend to participate in the State LineClassic. The Cats open the tournament on Saturday at 2 p.m. againstVirginia Tech and will play Tennessee at 4 p.m.
R H EUK 0 1 5 3 0 3 12 13 0EKU 2 0 0 1 0 1 4 6 4WP - Camunas (3-6) and Angus; LP - Soto (1-3) and Sarrazin. Save -Marr (1); HR - Soto (EKU), Kwiatkowski 2 (UK), Sarrazin (EKU)Records - UK (7-9); EKU (4-6)
