Feb. 21, 1998
RALEIGH, N.C. – The University of Kentucky softball team split a pair of games to capture first place in Group D play at the UNC Triangle Classic on Saturday. The Wildcats earned the No. 1 seed from Group D and will face the winner of the Miami of Ohio/Eastern Kentucky game in Sunday’s second round of the single-elimination portion of the tournament after receiving a first-round bye.
UK met Campbell to decide the group winner, coming from behind twice to capture a 4-3 win after 11 innings. With two outs in the bottom of the 11th, senior Lorie Horner hit a bases-loaded single to right field to give UK the win.
The Wildcats (4-5) jumped on the board early when Lindsay Houser singled in Leslie Kwiatkowski in the bottom of the first for a 1-0 UK lead. Campbell took the lead in the top of the sixth, scoring twice off three hits to take a 2-1 advantage. However, UK answered back in the bottom of the inning, as Houser again singled in Kwiatkowski to tie the game at 2-2. Both teams had runners in scoring position in the eighth, ninth and 10th innings, but neither team could push a run across. In the top of the 11th, Campbell took a 3-2 lead, setting the stage for the dramatic ending. UK shortstop Michelle Bucci started the bottom of the 11th on second base due to the international tie-break rule. Kwiatkowski doubled to center, scoring Bucci and tying the game at 3-3. After Tiffany Kruse flew out to left, Jacki Haynes reached on a fielder’s choice, which moved Kwiatkowski to third. Houser then received an intentional walk to load the bases. Stephanie Thompson struck out for the second out before Horner’s single scored Kwiatkowski to win the game.
Kwiatkowski finished the game 3-for-5 at the plate with an RBI and three runs scored. Houser was 2-for-3 with two RBI. Kwiatkowski set a UK single-game record with three runs scored in the game, while pitcher Keary Camunas also set a single-game record after pitching the entire 11 innings to pick up the win.
UK was not as fortunate in the first game, dropping a 6-2 decision to Georgia Tech. Kwiatkowski was 2-for-3 with an RBI, while Susan Moore was 2-for-4 with a solo home run.
Kwiatkowski finished the day 5-for-8 with two RBI and three runs scored.
