Wildcats clinch first winning season in program history.
MOREHEAD, Ky. (April 26, 2000) — The University of Kentucky softballteam clinched a winning season for the first time inthe program’s four-year history as the Cats swept adoubleheader from the Morehead State EaglesWednesday afternoon at the University Softball Field.Jen Howland pitched a five-hitter as UK scored a 7-2victory in the opener, while the Cats, led by hurlerMorgan Marr, claimed the nightcap, 8-2.
UK (33-22) jumped on the host Eagles with four runsin the top of the first, while four of the Cats first fivehitters hit safely.
Junior Tiffany Kruse doubled to center to lead off thesixth for the Cats, while Angie Dal Pozzo singled toleft. Third baseman Andrea Eilertson singled down theright field line, scoring Kruse and Dal Pozzo. Eilertsonscored on a throwing error by MSU third basemanAmy Wilkinson, giving the Cats a 7-0 lead.
The Eagles scored a pair of runs in the sixth andseventh inning for the game’s final margin of 7-2.
Howland struck out five MSU batters and improved to8-5 on the season. Eagle hurler Nikki Scott fell to6-11. Nikki Jones, Leslie Kwiatkowski, Kruse, and DalPozzo each recorded two hits apiece for the Cats.
For the second consecutive game, the Cats put fourruns across in the top of the first to start the secondgame. Kruse’s bases loaded single to right scoredJones and Kwiatkowski. Lyndsey Angus scored fromthird on Dal Pozzo’s fielder’s choice. Colleen Boddygrounded out to first, however Kruse came home fromthird, giving UK a 4-0 advantage.
In the second inning, Howland tagged from third and scored Angus’ sacrifice flyto left field as the Cats pushed its lead to 5-0.
MSU (16-29) managed two runs in the fifth, but the Cats responded with a run inthe top of the sixth on Angus’ RBI-double to right center, scoring Kwiatkowskifrom second.
UK added two more insurance-runs in the seventh as the Cats’ claimed theirseventh straight victory, tying the school mark for consecutive wins in a season.Marr, a native of Vienna, Va., struck out one batter and walked one en route toher sixth win of the season. Kwiatkowski, Jones, Angus, and Eilertson allrecorded multiple-hit games for the Cats.
Howland set a school mark by playing four different positions in the contest. TheGlendale, Ariz., native started in left and moved to second base in the secondinning. Howland then moved to third base in the bottom of the third inning andplayed the final out of the game at catcher as Dana Fohl grounded out to short.She has now played all nine positions in the field for UK since arriving oncampus last year.
“It was good today that the tying run never came to plate, so we were able toplay relaxed out there,” UK coach Beth Kirchner said. “Offensively, we hit theball well, and we got two solid outings by Jen and Morgan.”
UK swings back into action on Friday, April 28 when the Cats travel to BatonRouge, La., to face the seventh-ranked LSU Tigers. The doubleheader will beginat 6 p.m. (EST).
R H EUK 4 0 0 0 0 3 0 7 10 1MSU 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 5 3WP - Howland (8-5) and Angus, Snider, LP - Scott (6-11) and Hoying. 2B - Kruse (UK), Fohl (MSU), N. Queen (MSU). R H EUK 4 1 0 0 0 1 28 12 0MSU 0 0 0 0 2 0 02 6 2WP - Marr (6-6) and Angus, Howland, LP - Crawford (7-11) and Hoying. 2B - Angus (UK), Eilertson (UK), Boddy (UK), Fohl (MSU).Records - UK (33-22), MSU (16-29).
