The University of Kentucky softball team scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning as the Wildcats rallied to defeat No. 19 South Carolina (USA Today/NFCA) 2-1, in the second game of the doubleheader on Saturday at the UK Softball Complex.
Sophomore Lyndsey Angus had a big day at the plate for the ‘Cats, going 3-7 at the plate with three singles and an RBI, including the game-winning hit with two outs in the nightcap. Senior left fielder Tiffany Kruse also contributed three hits on the day.
Kentucky (21-24, 6-12 Southeastern Conference) was blanked 3-0 in the opening game, managing only four hits off USC starting pitcher Megan Matthews. South Carolina broke a scoreless tie in the top of the third inning when designated player Kim Evans singled back up the middle, stole second base, and scored on senior Joyce Mc Millan’s single up the middle.
UK’s Angus broke up Matthews’ no-hitter with a two-out single in the fourth inning. The Lady Gamecocks added two insurance runs as junior Adrianna Bagetta led off the sixth inning with a home run over the fence in center field, followed by a single from shortstop Amber Curtis and a double to right field senior Adrienne Genovese that scored Curtis.
The Wildcats only threat of the game came with consecutive two-out singles by senior Leslie Kwiatkowski and sophomore Nikki Jones in the bottom of the sixth inning. USC’s Matthews ended the threat by getting Angus to foul out to Quinones at first base.
UK hurler Morgan Marr went the distance, scattering nine hits and surrendering only three runs but absorbed the loss, falling to 13-11 on the season. South Carolina’s Megan Donahoo quickly staked the visitors from Columbia to a 1-0 advantage in the nightcap by leading off the game with a home run over the left-field fence.
UK freshman pitcher Monique Lovell settled down and the game turned into a pitcher’s duel as neither team was able to score again until the Wildcats’ heroics in the bottom of the seventh inning. Junior Beth Fogle beat out an infield single with one out off USC’s Matthews, who replaced starting pitcher Stacey Johnson in the sixth inning. After senior Leslie Kwiatkowski flied out to left field for the second out of the inning, Nikki Jones beat out a bunt and went to second when the USC defense tried to get Fogle at third.
That set the stage for Angus to face Matthews again, this time with the game on the line. Angus drove Matthews’ first pitch to left field, scoring Fogle from third with the tying run and Jones from second with the winning run as left-fielder Megan Donahoo bobbled the ball. Lovell gave up one run as she evened her record at 3-3 on the season. Jones recorded a single in each game to up her hitting streak to 12 games.
The difference between the two games was timely hitting, UK coach Beth Kirchner said. I thought we played well all day. It was a big win for us. The Cats and Lady Gamecocks (30-13-1, 14-5 SEC) will meet again Sunday at noon to close out the three-game series.
