April 21, 2001
BATON ROUGE, La. — The University of Kentucky softball team dropped a doubleheader to the fifth-ranked LSU Tigers Saturday afternoon at Tiger Park. The Southeastern Conference Western Division-leading Tigers captured the opener 12-0, and took the nightcap 5-2.
In the first game the Tigers sent 11 batters to the plate in the first inning, scoring seven runs on five hits with one out in the bottom of the first inning.
UK junior Angie Dal Pozzo led off the top of the third inning with a single to right-center field and moved to second on a sacrifice by senior Tiffany Kruse, but was erased trying to steal third one out later.
LSU batted around in the bottom of the second inning, adding four more runs on five singles, an error, and a walk. The Tigers added the final run of the game in the third inning when first baseman Megann Steege scored from third on freshman Julie Weise’s single to shortstop.
The Wildcats threatened to score and avoid the shutout when Sarah Meadors replaced LSU ace Britni Sneed in the circle. Senior Leslie Kwiatkowski reached on an error by Steege and moved to second on Nikki Jones’ single to left field. The threat ended when catcher Lyndsey Angus hit a shot to LSU third baseman Wiese, who stepped on third to force Kwiatkowski, and threw to first in time to get Angus. Jones’ single turned out to be only the second UK hit off Tigers’ pitching in the game.
LSU’s Sneed surrendered only one hit in three innings of work to improve to 25-5 on the season.
Kentucky’s Morgan Marr took the loss, falling to 15-12 on the season.
In the nightcap the Wildcats put together a two-out threat in the first inning when Angus banged a single to left field, followed by Dal Pozzo’s infield single. Both runners were stranded when Kruse grounded out to second base.
The Tigers got on the board first, pushing three runs across in the bottom of the second inning. Right fielder Trena Peel reached on an error by Jones with one out and moved to second base. Wiese walked, and LSU pitcher Ashley Lewis singled to center, scoring Peel and moving Wiese to third. Wiese scored on a ground out to Jones at second, and Lweis came across with the final run of the inning on Auburne Ziober’s single up the middle.
The Wildcats never gave up and battled back in the fourth inning. Angus led off the inning with her second single of the day to left field. Angie Dal Pozzo stepped to the plate and hammered her team-leading seventh home run of the season deep over the fence in left field. The round-tripper cut the deficit to 3-2. Dal Pozzo’s home run was only the second allowed by the Tiger’s pitching staff in Southeastern Conference play this season. Rachel Friberg singled to left field with one out but was stranded as the next two Cats were retired on strikes.
LSU added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth when shortstop Stephanie Hastings hit a one-out home run to left field with a runner on base to give the Tigers a 5-2 lead, and set the final margin.
Dal Pozzo was 3-5 on the day, with a home run and two RBI. Angus was 2-4, with a walk.
The Wildcat defense also turned in three double plays in the second game.
Freshman hurler Monique gave up the five LSU runs, though none were earned, due to three UK errors. Lovell absorbed the loss, falling to 4-4 on the season. The Hollywood, Ca. native has recorded and ERA of 0.70 in her last three starts.
The Cats (24-26, 7-14 SEC) and Tigers (41-8, 20-3 SEC) will meet again Sunday at noon to close out the three-game series.
AGATE
R H EKentucky 000 00 0 2 4Louisana St 741 0X 0 0 0
WP-Sneed (25-5) and Schuelke, LP-Marr (15-12) and Angus, 2B-Janzen,3B-Douglas, HBP-Schuelke, Perry, SH-Kruse, CS-Dal Pozzo
R H EKentucky 002 000 0 2 6 3Louisana St 030 020 X 5 9 0WP-Lewis (14-3) and Reeves, LP-Lovell (4-4) and Angus, 2B-Connor, Wiese,HR-Dal Pozzo, Hastings, SB-Ziober, CS-KwiatkowskiRecords- UK (24-26, 7-14 SEC), LSU (41-8, 20-3 SEC)
