Nov. 22, 2014

FAIRBANKS, Alaska. – Second-ranked Kentucky bounced back from a tough Friday result with a close 4676-4669 victory over No. 5 Nebraska on Saturday at Alaska’s E.F. Horton Rifle Range.

The Wildcats outscored the Huskers 2369-2353 after trailing 2307-2316 at the end of smallbore.

“We seemed a lot more focused in air rifle today, and smallbore still has room for improvement,” UK head coach Harry Mullins said. “I was really happy for the team. We will go into the break with a good idea of the things that we need to work on to get our smallbore higher .
    
“Today we had to come from behind to get the win. I think these two matches showed us what we need to improve on, and I feel that we are heading in the right direction. We are a little off from where I think we should be, but with a little hard work we should catch right back up.”

The Wildcats had four people shoot 594s, including Connor Davis. The 594s were personal bests for Jonathan Pinkel, Heather Kirby and Elijah Ellis, although the latter’s score did not count toward the team total .

Sonya May was UK’s No. 4 scorer in air rifle with a 587.

Davis led UK with a 585 in smallbore, while May ended with a 579.
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The Wildcats improved to 7-1 with Saturday’s win. Seventh-ranked Alaska handed the No. 2 Kentucky rifle team its first loss of the season, defeating the Wildcats 4693-4665 on Friday in a match between two of the top teams in the country.

Alaska bettered UK by a 2370-2355 score line in air rifle, and a 2323-2310 margin in smallbore.

UK’s winning total against Nebraska was 10 shy of its season high, set in the season opener at home.

Saturday’s competition was UK’s last of 2014. The Wildcats will resume the season on Jan. 23, 2015 with the Withrow Invitational in Murray, Kentucky.