March 8, 1998
RICHMOND, Ky. – The University of Kentucky Softball team posted a season-high seven runs in two straight wins to capture second place at the Eastern Kentucky Invitational on Sunday.
The Wildcats defeated Wright State in Game 1, 7-6 in eight innings, when freshman Leslie Kwiatkowski singled in catcher Sarah Snider in the bottom of the eighth for the game-winning run. It was the second straight game that Kwiatkowski had singled in Snider to win a game, as the two combined for UK’s win over Miami on Friday.
UK jumped on the board early, scoring in the bottom of the first for a 2-0 lead. But Wright State answered in the top of the second, scoring five runs for a 5-2 lead. The Wildcats responded with two runs in the fifth and another in the sixth to tie the game at 5-5, but Wright State took a 6-5 lead in the top of the seventh. UK again tied the game in the seventh. Thirdbaseman Lindsay Houser, who finished the game 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, began the inning on second and moved to third on a Lorie Horner sacrifice. Susan Moore followed with a double to score Houser, knotting the game at 6-6 and sending it to extra innings.
In the top of the eighth, UK pitcher Lorie Horner retired all three WSU batters, setting the stage for Kwiatkowski’s heroics. Snider began the eighth on second and moved to third on a Michelle Bucci sacrifice bunt. Kwiatkowski then singled to right field, as she had done against Miami on Friday, scoring Snider for the game-winning run. Horner picked up the win for UK, her first this season, and helped her own cause at the plate with an RBI. UK also had a season-high 11 hits.
In Game 2, UK broke open a close game with five runs in the fourth en route to a 7-1 win over Dayton. It was the Wildcats’ second win over the Flyers in the past six games, as the two teams split a doubleheader at the UK Softball Stadium last Tuesday.
Dayton took an early lead, scoring in the bottom of the first for a 1-0 advantage, but would not score again. UK responded with two runs in the top of the third inning, when a Jacki Haynes single scored Kwiatkowski and Snider for a 2-1 Wildcat lead. Kentucky then posted five runs in the fourth to effectively seal the win.
Secondbaseman Crystal Grace singled in Houser to start the scoring before a Snider sacrifice fly scored Horner to put UK up 4-1. Bucci then followed with a single to score Grace and Susan Moore and then scored herself on a Dayton passed ball to complete the 7-1 UK victory. Keary Camunas picked up the win for UK, her eighth on the season, as the Wildcats improved to 9-12. UK posted a 3-1 record during the tournament, claiming second place behind host Eastern Kentucky.
The Wildcats continue action on Monday, as UK plays host to South Dakota State at the UK Softball Stadium at 6 p.m. The game should spark some memories for current UK coach Beth Kirchner, as the Wildcat skipper was the head coach at SDSU from 1992-95 before leaving to take the head coaching position at UK.
