Feb. 11, 2000

ARLINGTON, Texas – The University of Kentucky softball teamcaptured itsfirst victory of the season Friday afternoon at the UTA Tournament, a 2-0shutout win over the Purdue Boilermakers.

Sophomore Jen Howland held Purdue to three hits, while earning herfourth career shutout. Centerfielder Beth Fogle went 2-3 and scored a run tolead the Cats.

UK got on the board in the bottom of the first when Fogle crossed homeafter an error by the Purdue shortstop. In the bottom of the sixth, Howlandscored when freshman Nikki Jones reached on another Purdue error.

In UK’s next game, the Cats and Louisiana-Monroe exchanged leads fourtimes before the Lady Indians won the game in the bottom of the seventh.Katrina Emerick, who led ULM by going 3-4, singled down the left field line tobreak a 4-4 tie and score Erica Tate from third base, giving the Lady Indians a5-4 victory.

UK grabbed an early 1-0 lead on a successful squeeze play, in whichfreshman Jamie Dardis scored. Michelle Bucci was credited with an RBI on theplay. After ULM took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third, UK answered theLady Indians when Andi Eilertson hit her first career home run, a two-run blastover the left field fence. Eilertson’s home run gave the Cats a 3-2 lead.

ULM (1-2) scored two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning togaina lead, however the Cats put one run across in the top of the seventh to tiethe game. Tiffany Kruse laid down a perfect bunt, allowing Lyndsey Angus toscore on the squeeze.

In the first game of the day, UK (1-2) was blanked by No. 8 Oklahoma,5-0. Six Cats recorded hits in the game as pitcher Keary Camunas took the loss.

“Overall, we played well,” UK coach Beth Kirchner said. “We madeprogress from game one to game three and our offense is starting to pick upfrom being on the dirt and field once again. We should continue to imrpove andplay well tomorrow.”

UK will take on 1999 College World Series participant SouthernMississippi in the first round of tournament play Saturday morning at 11:15a.m. The Cats fell to the Golden Eagles, 9-1 last season at the Frost CutleryTournament in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Complete results, statistics, and photographs of the UTA Tournament areavailable at www.SportsStandings.com.