March 5, 1999

The University of Kentucky softball team will open the home portion of its 1999 season by playing host to the second annual Kentucky Invitational Saturday and Sunday, March 6-7, at the UK Softball-Soccer Complex. The tournament field includes Ohio State, Canisius, Akron and UK with all four teams scheduled to play two games on Saturday. On Sunday, each team will play one game before the consolation game (No. 3 vs. No. 4) at 3 p.m. or the championship game (No. 1 vs. No. 2) at 5 p.m. UK, which currently stands 6-9 on the season, takes on Ohio State Saturday at noon and the Canisius Golden Griffins at 4 p.m. On Sunday at 1 p.m., the Cats go head to head with Akron.

“We’re excited with this particular schedule with Ohio State, Canisius, and Akron,” UK Head Coach Beth Kirchner said. “There should be some good teams to play so it should be an exciting tournament to watch, weather permitting. We will play because (the field crew) does such a good job.” UK will be playing each team for the first time in the program’s three-year existence.

Tiffany Kruse currently leads the Wildcats at the plate recording twenty hits, eight runs batted in, and a batting average of .444. Junior pitcher Keary Camunas is UK’s top performer on the mound with a 3-5 record 2.62 ERA.

“We’re really excited to play at home,” Kirchner said. “It’s always exciting to play in front of your home fans, friends, and family. “I think if we play good solid defense, make the basic plays, we’re in the right spots at the right time then we’ll play very well.” -UK-