Jan. 31, 2002
The University of Kentucky softball team will begin its sixth season of competition on Friday as the Wildcats travel to Miami, Fla., for the Fun In the Sun Tournament. UK will open the season against Southeastern Conference-foe Georgia on Friday at noon ET followed by a 2:30 p.m. ET start with Illinois State. Host Florida International and UK will square off on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET.
Coach Beth Kirchner, the 2000 SEC Coach of the Year, is in her sixth season at the helm of the Wildcat program. She owns a 116-194 record in the Bluegrass and has taken the Cats to the SEC tournament for the past two seasons.
UK returns six of eight positional starters and two starting pitchers from a team that went 27-34 overall, 10-18 in the SEC during the 2001 campaign. Among the returnees is first-team All-SEC catcher Lyndsey Angus and second-team All-SEC infielder Nikki Jones.
The Wildcats also have a very talented and deep senior class. Shortstop Angie Dal Pozzo, who led the team with a .357 batting average in 2001, returns to anchor the infield while Beth Fogle returns to quarterback the outfield from centerfield. Jennifer Howland, Andy Eilertson and Sandi Dengler round out the senior class and all bring a wealth of experience to the team.
“We are really excited to get out and play our first game of 2002,” Kirchner said. “Right now, our pitching is better, we’re deeper and our defense is another year older.”
UK’s trip to Miami will be its first ever and it will also mark the earliest start for the Wildcats. UK has never played either Illinois State or Florida International, but trails Georgia in their series, 7-11.
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