(Mar. 18, 2001) — The UK softball team fell 5-4 to the Florida Gators Sunday, March 18, at the UK Softball Complex.
Florida jumped out in front early, scoring one run in the top of the first inning when designated player Bree Bergers two-out single to center scored Ashley Boone from second base. The Gators added another run in the third inning on back-to-back doubles with two outs by left fielder Mylin Prieto and Bree Berger. Berger was later thrown out at the plate by UKs Leslie Kwiatkowski on Katy Bergers single to right field.
Kentucky threatened with two outs in the third inning when the Cats loaded the bases on a Kwiatkowski triple to the base of thefence in right field and consecutive walks to Nikki Jones and Lyndsey Angus. UF pitcher Renise Landry got out of the inningunscathed however, when shortstop Angie Dal Pozzo grounded out to second base.
Leading 2-0, the Gators added three unearnerd runs with two outs in the top of the sixth inning. Boone doubled to the gap in leftcenter, scoring Jackie Marchetta from third base, followed by senior Emily Marinos two-run single to right field.
UKs offense came alive in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Cats scored three runs with no outs. Left fielder Sandi Denglerdrew a leadoff walk followed by pitcher Jen Howlands double. Center fielder Beth Fogle then beat out on infield single to shortstopto load the bases. Dengler came home on a wild pitch for the Wildcats first run, then Kwiatkowski doubled to the fence in right fieldbringing home Howland and Fogle to cut Floridas lead to 5-3. Kwiatkowski moved to third on Jones ground out to second andscored on Lyndsey Angus ground out to the shortstop. Dal Pozzo reached first on a dropped third strike to extend the inning, butUKs rally fell short as Rachel Friberg bounced back to the pitcher for the third out. The defeat was the Cats second consecutiveone-run loss to Florida.
Kentucky starting pitcher Jen Howland went the distance for the Wildcats but took the loss, falling to 4-7 on the season.Kwiatkowski was 2-4, with a triple, a double and two RBIs on the afternoon.
“It was a disappointing weekend,” said UK coach Beth Kirchner. “A hit here or there and we would have had different results.Now we need to get ready to play Tennessee.”
The Cats (14-16, 1-4 SEC) travel to Knoxville Tuesday, March 20, for an afternoon doubleheader against the Volunteers to begin athree-game series.
R H EFlorida 101 003 0 - 5 12 1Kentucky 000 000 4 - 4 7 2 2B-Boone, Prieto, B. Berger, Kwiatkowski, Howland; 3B- Kwiatkowski
