The Wildcat softball team fell to the visiting Florida Gators, 18-3 and 5-4, Saturday afternoon at the UK Softball Complex.

The weather was cold, but the Gators’ bats were hot in the opener as Florida scored two unearned runs in the top of the first inning,courtesy of three UK errors. Catcher Emily Marino singled to right field with one out and came around to score when left fielder MylinPrieto’s grounder went through shortstop Angie Dal Pozzo’s legs, then scooted under Tiffany Kruse’s glove in left field. Prietoadvanced to third base on a single by designated player Bree Berger, and scored as the ball glanced off Kruse’s glove.

The Wildcats cut the deficit to one in the third inning as designated player Jen Howland led off the inning with a walk, moved to secondon Nikki Jones’ bunt single, and went to third base as right fielder Leslie Kwiatkowski bounced to second baseman Prissie Walden, whotagged Jones out between first and second. Howland scored on catcher Lyndsey Angus’ two-out single to center field.

The Gators erupted for six runs in the top of the fifth inning as they batted around, scoring four runs before the Cats could record an out.Florida banged out five hits, including two doubles to put the game out of reach for the Wildcats. Freshman Monique Lovell replaced UKstarter Morgan Marr and surrendered two of the five Gator hits.

The hit parade continued for the visitors from Gainesville as they pounded out 10 more runs on eight hits in the top of the sixth inning.

The 16 hits recorded by Florida represented a school-record for hits in a game, while the 18 runs given up and nine walks issued by UKhurlers set new school records for Kentucky.

Wildcat hurler Morgan Marr took the loss, falling to 9-5 on the season.

UK took a 1-0 lead in the nightcap as freshman Rachel Friberg doubled to left field to lead off the second inning, moved to third base ona wild pitch, and scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Kruse. Kentucky starting pitcher Jen Howland held the Gators scoreless untilthe sixth inning, when UF scored three times. Prieto led off the inning with a single to left field, with Judd entering the game as pinchrunner. First baseman Ashley Boone drew a walk after Judd stole second base. With runners on first and second, Bree Berger flied outto Sandi Dengler in center, moving Judd to third and Boone to second base. Katy Berger then delivered a one-out double to left centerfield, scoring both Judd and Boone. Marr replaced Howland on the mound for the Cats. Berger moved to third on a passed ball, followedby a walk to Jenilee Garner. Garner advanced to second on a wild pitch. Berger tried to score on Walden’s ground ball to Dal Pozzo atshortstop, but was thrown out at the plate. However Garner did score as the Cats caught Walden in a rundown between first andsecond and lost track of Garner, with Walden safely scrambling back to first.

Trailing 3-1 in the sixth, UK answered with two runs of their own to tie the score on the strength of Andy Eilertson’s first home run ofthe season. Eilertson’s two-out shot over the center field fence scored Dal Pozzo who walked to lead off the inning.

Gator left fielder Prieto robbed UK’s Lyndsey Angus of the potential game-winning hit in the bottom of the seventh inning when Prietomade a great diving catch of Angus’ sinking line drive that would have scored Sandi Dengler from first base.

Florida notched two runs in the eighth inning on Boone’s opposite field home run over the left field fence and Walden’s hard one-hopperback past Marr that scored Bree Berger.

Again the Wildcats fought back in the bottom of the inning. Dal Pozzo led off with a double off the fence in left center, moved to thirdon Friberg’s ground out to shortstop, and scored on a wild pitch. With two outs and the bases loaded Kwiatkowski lined out to theFlorida second baseman to end the game.

Marr absorbed the loss in relief for the Wildcats, falling to 9-6 on the season.

“ I was very disappointed with the way we started out today,” said UK coach Beth Kirchner. “I thought we would be crisp to startoff. I was very proud of the way we came back in the second game. The opportunities were there but the ball did not bounce our way.Jen Howland pitched very well for us.”

The Cats (14-15, 1-3 SEC) and Gators (19-8, 5-3 SEC) will meet again Sunday at noon to close out the three-game series.