The University of Kentucky softball team defeated Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday, Feb. 28, in both games of a doubleheader, 4-3 and8-0, in the Wildcats’ home opener. Kentucky improves to 8-10 on the season, while Eastern Kentucky goes to 6-5.

“We finally broke out with our offense and hit the ball well in both games of the doubleheader,” UK coach Beth Kirchner said. “Welooked comfortable at the plate and I think it will carry over to the Georgia series.”In the first game, Kentucky opened scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning when Angie Dal Pozzo hammered a home run to left field,scoring Rachel Friberg. Eastern Kentucky got on the board in the top of the fifth inning when Elise Burch singled to score JenChristiansen. With the score 2-1, the Colonels stepped up to bat in the seventh inning. Diana Barreras reached first base on an error bypitcher Morgan Marr, who overthrew first base. Barreras continued on to third base, scoring Amy Wells and Renee LeBlanc.

Kentucky was able to rally, however, in the bottom of the seventh After Nikki Jones hit a single to place Beth Fogle and Jen Howland inscoring position, Lyndsey Angus reached first on an error and allowed Fogle to score the game-tying run and Howland to score thegame-winning run. Pitcher Morgan Marr improved to 5-3 with the win, striking out five batters and allowing only five hits.

In the nightcap, both teams went scoreless until the bottom of the third inning as Kentucky stepped up to bat. Andy Eilertson hit adouble, then advanced to third on a Howland single. With Eilertson in scoring position, Fogle stepped up to the plate and walked,advancing Howland to second base. Leslie Kwiatkowski was up to bat for the Wildcats with bases loaded, and she hit a single to scoreEilertson. Though Howland was forced out at home, Kwiatkowski and Fogle both went on to score. Also scoring in the inning wereFriberg and Jones, who did so after Dal Pozzo drilled a triple.

With the Wildcats up 5-0, pitcher Howland was able to contain Eastern Kentucky, allowing Kentucky to come back up to bat.Kentucky took the opportunity and in the bottom of the fourth, Eilertson scored again on another Kwiatkowski single. The final blowcame in the fifth inning when Angus and Friberg scored, ending the game due to the eight-run mercy rule. Pitcher Jen Howland is now3-5 and did not allow a walk in the game and allowed a mere four hits.Kentucky will play host to Georgia in the Southeastern Conference opener in a doubleheader on Tuesday, Mar. 6, at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.