May 8, 2000

LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky softball player Leslie Kwiatkowski was named theSoutheastern Conference Player of the Week the SEC office announced today.

Kwiatkowski, a junior from South Bend, Ind., led the Cats to afour-gamesweep over the Tennessee Lady Vols last week as UK captured its first SECEastern Division title since the program began in 1997.

“Leslie definitely deserved to win the award, not only for herperformance this week but for her offensive output all year long,” UK coachBeth Kirchner said.

Kwiatkowski hit .583 (7-12) on the week with five RBI, four runs, onedouble, one triple, and her fourth home run of the season. Her two-run homer inthe fourth inning of the third game against UT, gave the Cats a 2-1 lead. Shebroke the UK single-season records for batting average (.405), runs scored(43), hit (79), and RBI (50).