STARKVILLE, Miss. — The University of Kentucky softball team split its doubleheader with the Mississippi State Bulldogs Saturdayafternoon at the Bulldog Diamond.
In the opener the Wildcats stopped the Bulldogs Southeastern Conference winning streak at nine by downing Mississippi State 8-1. TheWildcats dropped a tough 3-2 decision in the nightcap to Mississippi State.
MSU starting pitcher Jennifer Pursell lasted only two-thirds of an inning, surrendering three runs on five hits in the top of the first inning.UK sophomore Lyndsey Angus got the action started by lining a two-out single to left. By the time the dust settled the Cats battedaround, banged out five consecutive singles and pushed three runs across the plate, chasing Pursell.
The Bulldogs threatened in the bottom of the first inning when the first two runners reached second and third with no outs. TheKentucky defense settled down when pitcher Morgan Marr Struck out Iyhia McMichael for the first out. The Cats recorded the secondout of the inning as third baseman Rachel Friberg snagged Jennifer Watermans hard-hit grounder and tagged MSUs Kellie Wilkersonout as she dove back to the bag. Mississippi State came away with no runs in the inning.
Kentucky added two more runs in the top of the third inning. Senior Tiffany Kruse led off the inning with a triple to the base of the wallin center field and scored when Friberg ripped a single back up the middle. Following an Andy Eilertson walk, designated player JenHowland laid down a bunt that MSU third baseman Cheri Smith fielded cleanly but then threw the ball away trying to get Howland atfirst. Friberg scored from second base on the error.
Mississippi State scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning when pinch runner Kasey Whitehead came homeon Krystal Tillmans single to left field. The Bulldogs stranded two runners on base when Marr struck Jaspers out looking, then Jessupbounced back to Marr for the second out, and leadoff hitter Wilkerson flied out to Kruse in left field.
UK shortstop Angie Dal Pozzo turned in the defensive gem of the game when the junior made a diving stop of MSUs Lindsay Nelsonshard grounder and fired to first in time to record the first out of the inning.
The Wildcats added three more runs on four singles in the top of the seventh inning to put the game out of reach for Mississippi State.
The 16 hits recorded by Kentucky were a season-high by the Cats and were also the most hits given up by Mississippi State this sesaon UK hurler Morgan Marr scattered six hits while going the distance to pick up her 12th win of the season.
MSU center fielder staked the Bulldogs to a quick 1-0 lead in the days second game by leading off the bottom of the first with a homerun to center field.
UK tied the score in the top of the third inning when Nikki Jones, who increased her hitting streak to seven games, singled to lead off,and scored when MSU first baseman Waterman misplayed Kruses grounder.
The game remained tied until the fifth when Jones again led off with a single, later stole third base and scored the go-ahead run on anerror by Bulldog catcher Blaire Brown.
The lead was short-lived however as Mississippi State scored the tying and winning runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Right fielderIyhia McMichael delivered a two-out double scoring both runs.
Howland took the loss in relief for UK, dropping to 5-10 on the season.
Nikki Jones went 4-9 on the day and Dal Pozzo was 4-8 at the plate.
The Cats (18-22, 5-10 SEC) and Bulldogs (25-18, 12-5 SEC) will meet again Sunday at 2 p.m. to close out the three-game series.
