May 6, 2000

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky softball team clinched the SoutheasternConference Eastern Division Championship and the second seed in the upcomingSEC Tournament next week in Birmingham, Ala., on the heels of Florida’s 5-0loss to Georgia on Saturday evening. The championship for UK caps aworst-to-first season after the Cats finished last in the SEC East each of theprogram’s first three seasons.

“This has been a very rewarding season, knowing how far we have come,”UK coach Beth Kirchner said. “Winning the SEC East is awesome. It is a greatbarometer for us to measure our progress by.”

UK will face the seventh-seeded South Carolina Lady Gamecocks at 2 p.m.on Thursday, May 11, in the first round of the SEC Tournament in Columbus, Ga.The Cats and Lady Gamecocks split a four-game series earlier this season inLexington, Ky.

“Being seeded second should be an easier road, however any team on anygiven day can beat the best, so we’ll need to be focused and ready to playhard,” Kirchner said.

SEC Western Division Champs LSU garnered the top seed in the eight-teamfield.