March 20, 1998

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky softball team opens the 1998 Southeastern Conference season Saturday, as the Wildcats play host to conference foes Alabama and Auburn at the UK Softball Stadium. The Wildcats have won five of their last nine games but take on an Alabama team that is on a roll. The Crimson Tide (20-8, 4-0 SEC) are on a 10-game winning streak and have posted an 18-3 record after opening the season 2-5.

Alabama has been paced this season by freshman Kelly Kretschman, who has hit safely in 21 straight games and leads the SEC with a .489 batting average. Last season, the Crimson Tide took a pair of games from UK, winning 2-0 and 15-0 in Tuscaloosa.

Originally scheduled to start at 6 p.m. on Saturday, the first game of the Alabama doubleheader is now set for 1 p.m. at the UK Softball Stadium, with the second game tentatively scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. The Wildcats (10-15, 0-0) continue SEC play on Sunday, taking on Auburn (7-15, 0-3) at 1 p.m. The Tigers enter the weekend 7-15, having lost 11 of their last 14, but play at Tennessee on Saturday. Freshman Mary Petrie leads Auburn with a .323 batting average. The Tigers won both games last season, claiming 5-4 and 5-0 victories in Auburn.