The University of Kentucky softball team was blasted 12-0 by Ole Miss in the openinggame of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon at the UK Softball Complex, but theWildcats bounced back to take the nightcap 7-1.

Ole Miss starting pitcher Lindsay Price surrendered only two hits, both to UKslugger Leslie Kwiatkowski, en route to earning her fifth win of the season. Price alsoreceived plenty of support as the visitors from Oxford, Miss. banged out 12 hits in thevictory.

The Rebels loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first and scored theirfirst run when senior Jamie Cummings delivered a single to center field, scoring onerun. One out later, designated player Holly Burris grounded to shortstop Angie DalPozzo driving in the runner from third base.

The Cats mounted a threat when Kwiatkowski singled to center field to lead off thebottom of the first. Junior Beth Fogle sacrificed Kwiatkowski to second, followed by DalPozzo’s walk. Left fielder Tiffany Kruse then nailed a hard hopper to the right side thathit Dal Pozzo to record the second out. The threat ended when third baseman RachelFriberg popped out to the shortstop.

Ole Miss added another run in the third inning when junior Kristi DiMarco walked onfour pitches and crossed the plate on Cummings’ double to center field. The Rebelsadded nine runs in the top of the fifth inning as they recorded four singles and threedoubles off UK pitchers Jen Howland and Monique Lovell. Ole Miss right fielder JessicaHamilton had two of the three doubles in the inning. Eight of the runs crossed the platewith two outs in the inning.

When Kentucky was unable to score in the bottom of the fifth inning the game wascalled due to the eight-run mercy rule.

UK junior Jen Howland took the loss, falling to 5-8 on the season.

The Wildcats, led by junior Andy Eilertson both at the plate and in the field, shookoff the loss to bounce back in the second game of the day to down Ole Miss 7-1.Eilertson went 1-2 at the plate, with a home run and three RBI’s. The Anamosa, Ia.native also made several defensive plays at third base.

Mississippi took the early lead in the nightcap when freshman Desiree Laymandrilled a 3-2 pitch over the fence in center field to lead off the second inning.

The Wildcats scored their first runs of the day in the bottom of the third inning whenEilertson hammered her second home run of the season, and third of her career,scoring both Dal Pozzo and Rachel Friberg. UK put four more runs on the board in thefifth inning when Dal Pozzo nailed her team-leading fifth home run of the season overthe left-field fence, scoring Nikki Jones. Kruse then singled, stole second, and moved tothird when the catcher’s throw went into center field. Friberg lined a single to center toscore Kruse, and crossed the plate when catcher Sandi Dengler singled to give theCats a 7-1 lead.

Sophomore Morgan Marr went the distance to pick up her 10th win of the season. “We are searching for some consistency,” UK coach Beth Kirchner said. “It is veryimportant that we come out ready to play tomorrow.” The Cats (16-18, 3-6 SEC) and Rebels (15-18, 2-3 SEC) take the field again Sundayafternoon for a 1 p.m. contest.

AGATE

                             R       H      EMississippi     201 09 XX   12      12      0Kentucky        000 00 XX    0       2      2                                               

WP-Price (5-5) and Poore; LP-Howland (5-8) and Dengler; 2B-Pooer (2), Hamilton, Cummings; SH-Pooer, Fogle; SB-Hamilton; CS-Burris

                                R       H       EMississippi     010 000 0       1       4       2Kentucky        003 040 0       7       7       1  

WP-Marr (10-7) and Dengler; LP-Hughes (7-7) and Manley; HR-Layman, Dal Pozzo,Eilertson; HBP-Friberg; SH-Layman, Eilertson; SB Jones, Dal Pozzo, Kruse;CS-CummingsRecords- UK (16-18, 3-6 SEC); UM (15-18, 2-3 SEC)