Softball reclaims top spot in SEC Eastern Division.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 2, 2000) — The University of Kentuckysoftball team swept a doubleheader from theTennessee Lady Volunteers on Senior Day Tuesdayafternoon at the UK Softball Complex to re-capturethe top spot in the Southeastern Conference EasternDivision. Pitcher Keary Camunas threw a three-hitshutout, her ninth of the season and 21st of hercareer, leading UK to a 2-0 victory in the opener, whilethe Cats defeated the Lady Vols, 10-1 in five inningsto win the nightcap.
Prior to the game, UK honored its four seniors,Colleen Boddy, Michelle Bucci, Camunas, and SarahSnider. UK basketball coach Tubby Smith capped thefestivities by throwing out the game’s ceremonial firstpitch.
In the opener, UK (34-27, 13-13) scored both of itsruns in the first inning.
Beth Fogle singled to second, and freshman LyndseyAngus followed with a single to right, moving Fogle tosecond. Leslie Kwiatkowski grounded out to first asboth moved runners up one base. Left fielder TiffanyKruse came to plate and hit a RBI-single to right, scoring Fogle and movingAngus to third. Shortstop Angie Dal Pozzo singled to center as Angus scoredto give UK a 2-0 victory.
Camunas took a no-hitter into the fourth inning before UT’s Amanda Venablesingled to center to leadoff the fourth. The senior from Lake Forest, Calif., struckout five and walked one, while improving to 19-13 on the season. UT’s JackieBeavers dropped to 14-17.
“We showed up and played very hard today like we wanted to win the SECEast,” UK coach Beth Kirchner said. “I was very pleased with our offense andthe way we attacked in the second game. Keary pitched well, and we playedvery good defense out there. It was nice to send our seniors out on a winningnote on Senior Day.”
In the nightcap, UT (27-32, 5-20) took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first onVenable’s RBI-single that deflected off UK third baseman Andrea Eilertson’sglove but bounced behind her, allowing Janette Koshell to score who earlierreached on a double to left center.
The Cats answered in the bottom of the second by scoring eight runs, whileposting three hits and seven earned runs off Lady Vol starter Nicole Murray.Murray walked three of the first four UK batters in the inning as the Cats battedaround to take a 8-1 advantage.
UK pushed two more runs across in the bottom of the fourth to put the game outof reach. Angus singled to left field, scoring freshman Nikki Jones from third.After Fogle and Angus advanced on a wild pitch by UT reliever Beavers, Krusegrounded out to short as Fogle was able to come home from third.
The game ended at the conclusion of the top of the fifth due to the eight-runNCAA mercy rule.
Hurler Jen Howland scattered five hits in the contest and struck out one,pushing her record to 9-7 overall. The Cats pounded out nine hits for the secondconsecutive game off the Lady Vol pitching staff. Kwiatkowski and Dal Pozzoled UK at the plate, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and one run scored apiece. Anguswas 1-for-1 with two RBI, as Jones and Fogle added a hit each and each scoredtwo runs.
UK concludes its regular season with the final two games of the four-gameseries with the Lady Vols on Wednesday, May 3. The doubleheader at the UKSoftball Complex will begin at 4 p.m.
R H EUT 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0 3 1UK 2 0 0 0 0 0 x - 2 9 0WP - Camunas (19-13) and Angus; LP - Beavers (14-17) and Mollet. 2B - Mollet(UT). R H EUT 1 0 0 0 0 - 1 5 2UK 0 8 0 2 x - 10 9 1WP - Howland (9-7) and Angus; LP - Murray (0-2), Beavers, Humphrey andMollet.2B - Koshell (UT), Wilson (UT).Records - UT (27-32, 5-20 SEC); UK (34-27, 13-13)
