March 22, 1998

Senior Lorie Horner blasted a three-run home run in the third inning to lift the University of Kentucky softball team to a 6-1 win over Auburn at the UK Softball Stadium on Sunday.

With the Tigers holding a 1-0 lead, Tiffany Kruse and Jackie Haynes notched back-to-back singles in the third before Horner’s shot over the centerfield fence cleared the bases, giving UK a 3-1 advantage. The Wildcats added two more runs in the fifth when Lindsay Houser’s double scored Haynes and Horner for a 5-1 UK lead. Kentucky added a final run in the sixth when Kruse scored on a Houser sacrifice fly to give UK the 6-1 win. It was the Wildcats’ first-ever win over the Tigers. Horner finished the game 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBI and two runs scored, while Houser was 1-for-2 with three RBI. Jacki Haynes was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while Kruse added two hits and two runs scored. Keary Camunas picked up her ninth win of the season, giving up just one run after scattering eight hits.

The Wildcats were not as fortunate in game 2, dropping a 9-4 decision to Auburn. The Tigers opened a 1-0 lead in the third, but UK answered in the fourth to level the scores at 1-1. Auburn notched four runs in the sixth to claim a 5-1 lead, but, again, the Wildcats responded. Stephanie Thompson doubled to score Leslie Kwiatkowski, who had doubled to start the bottom of the sixth. Thompson then scored on a Lorie Horner single to bring UK to within two, 5-3. But Auburn added four more runs in the top of the seventh and UK could only manage one more run, as the Tigers claimed the 9-4 win.

Thompson finished the second game 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored, while Horner added her fourth RBI of the day with a 1-for-2 performance. Kentucky continues action on Wednesday, as the Wildcats travel for a doubleheader at Morehead State.