Wildcats knock out three homers to help close out the sweep.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 22, 2000) — The University of Kentuckysoftball team scored four runs in the bottom of theseventh inning as the Cats rallied to defeat Florida,9-8, in the second game of the doubleheader onSaturday at the UK Softball Complex. The Cats, whohit three home runs on the day, defeated the Gatorsfor the first time in school history with a 4-0 victory inthe opener, as UK strengthened its lead in theSoutheastern Conference Eastern Division.
Freshman Lyndsey Angus had a big day for the Cats,going 4-for-6 at the plate with three singles and atwo-run homer. Angus, a native of Leominster, Mass.,also scored three runs, while UK pitcher KearyCamunas picked up the victory in both contests.
UK (29-22, 10-8 SEC) fell behind 3-0, after the Gatorsroughed up UK starter Morgan Marr in the first twoinnings of the second game.
However, the Cats came back with a big third inning,scoring five runs on six hits. Nikki Jones tripled to leftcenter and scored on a throwing error by UF rightfielder Ashley Boone. Beth Fogle followed with a buntsingle to third. Angus then blasted a two-run shot to left field off UF startingpitcher Renise Landry. The bleeding didn’t stop for the Gators, as LeslieKwiatkowski and Tiffany Kruse recorded back-to-back singles for the Cats.Freshman Jamie Dardis singled to right, scoring Kwiatkowski and Kruse to giveUK a 5-2 lead.
UF (37-22, 7-10) responded with a five-run, fourth inning to re-take the lead, 8-5,highlighted by Boone’s three-run homer to right center. Relief pitcher KearyCamunas entered the game with one out in the top of the fifth and allowed justone hit the rest of the way.
Angus drew a walk from UF reliever Nicole Michael to start the seventh for theCats. Beth Dieter entered the game to relieve Michael and gave up a single toleft by Kwiatkowski. Kruse followed with a RBI-single, scoring Angus from thirdand advancing Kwiatkowski to third. Shortstop Angie Dal Pozzo wasintentionally walk, loading the bases for UK third baseman Andrea Eilertson.Eilertson reached on a fielder’s choice when UF tried unsuccessfully to throwout Kwiatkowski at home, trimming the Gators’ lead to 8-7. Dardis drew abases-loaded walk as Kruse scored to tie the game. With nobody out, JenHowland hit into a fielder’s choice as Dal Pozzo slid into home, well before thethrow to give the Cats a thrilling a 9-8 victory.
Camunas earned the win, improving to 17-11, while Dieter dropped to 17-10 withthe loss. Angus and Kwiatkowski each recorded three hits apiece and Kruseadded two.
In the first game, Kruse hit her second round-tripper of the season, a solo shotover the right field foul pole to give UK a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Dardis’sacrifice fly to center scored Dal Pozzo, who tagged from third to give the Catsa 2-0 lead.
With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Dal Pozzo blasted a two-run homer,the first home run of her career, well over the left field fence as UK took a 4-0advantage. This marked the first time this season that UK has hit two homeruns in a game.
Camunas pitched out of trouble in the seventh as Lora Pinkerton grounded outto first with the bases loaded. Camunas pitched a four-hit shutout, her seventhshutout of the season and 19th of her career, to earn the win. Dieter struck outfive in the losing effort for UF.
“It was important to get our first win over Florida,” UK coach Beth Kirchner said.”To win two games and get a come-from-behind victory made it a really excitingday.”
The final two games of the four-game series between UK and Florida concludeson Sunday, April 23 with the doubleheader beginning at noon at the UK SoftballComplex.
R H EUF 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 4 1UK 0 2 0 2 0 0 x4 6 1WP - Camunas (16-11) and Angus; LP - Dieter (17-9) and Zimbardi. HR - Kruse (UK), Dal Pozzo (UK).R H EUF 2 1 0 5 0 0 0 8 13 3UK 0 0 5 0 0 0 49 12 2WP - Marr, Howland, Camunas (17-11) and Angus; LP - Landry, Michael, Dieter(17-10) and Zimbardi, Berger). 2B - Pinkerton (UF); 3B - Pinkerton (UF), Jones (UK); HR - Boone (UF), Angus(UK).Records - UF (37-22, 7-10 SEC); UK (29-22, 10-8)
