March 28, 1998

LEXINGTON, Kty. – The University of Kentucky softball team narrowly missed earning a series split with South Carolina, falling 3-2 to the defending SEC champions in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader at the UK Softball Stadium. The Lady Gamecocks scored in the top of the sixth inning to pull out the come-from-behind win. With two outs in the sixth, USC’s Kim Pietro doubled to centerfield and advanced to third on a UK error. Two batters later, Lady Gamecock catcher Carrie Elliott-Hoshour hit a shot at UK shortstop Michelle Bucci, scoring Pietro to give USC the 3-2 win.

UK took the lead in the opening inning, scoring twice in the opening frame. Stephanie Thompson singled and scored the very next batter, when Tiffany Kruse ripped a triple to left field. Kruse then scored on a Jackie Haynes single to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead. However, South Carolina answered with a run in the third and fourth innings to tie the game, before scoring the winning run in the sixth.

In Game 2, South Carolina (16-11, 6-4 SEC) scored five runs in the second en route to a 7-3 win over the Wildcats. UK (14-21, 2-6) answered with a two runs in the second and a run in the fifth, but could not push another run across.

Kentucky continues action on Tuesday, as the Wildcats face Ball State in a doubleheader at the UK Softball Stadium. First pitch of Game 1 is set for 2 p.m., while Game 2 is scheduled to begin at approximately 4 p.m.