Feb. 16, 2002
SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The University of Kentucky women’s softball team continued its string of flip-flopping wins and losses as the Wildcats defeated host Texas-San Antonio, 7-5, and followed it up with a loss to Wichita State, 4-1, as action continued on Saturday at the Fast Pitch Express College Classic. UK is now 4-5 overall and 2-2 on the weekend.
In the day’s first game, pitchers senior Jennifer Howland and junior Morgan Marr teamed up to down the host Roadrunners, 7-5. Howland (2-0) pitched a strong 5.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits. Marr, who relieved Howland in the sixth, threw 2.0 innings, striking out three.
Junior catcher Lyndsey Angus led the offensive charge with a 2-for-3, two RBI afternoon while sophomore infielder Rachel Friberg went 2-for-3 and had the game-winning RBI.
The Wildcats jumped out early, scoring three runs in the second for a 3-0 lead. Freshman infielder Meghan Cooper reached first after getting hit by a pitch to start off the inning. She then stole second and advanced to third as UTSA catcher Michelle McElyea threw the ball into the outfield. Cooper went to third on the overthrow, and finally went home as centerfielder Tammy Nelson committed a throwing error trying to get her at third. After an out, freshman outfielder Megan Brooks walked, advanced to second on freshman Brook Bowman’s single and then both moved up as junior Nikki Jones grounded out to second. An Angus single then scored both Wildcats for the game’s second and third runs.
UK kept the offense going in the next three innings, scoring one in the third, one in the fourth and two in the fifth for a 7-1 lead. In the fifth, freshman Jessica Nance led off with a walk and advanced to second on a Cooper sacrifice bunt. Friberg then singled, scoring Nance from second. After a UK out, freshman Brook Bowman singled, moving Friberg up to third. The pair then pulled off a delayed double steal of second and home, bringing the margin up to 7-1.
UTSA would not go away, however. After scoring one in the bottom of the sixth, UTSA sent all nine hitters to the plate in the last of the seventh. With one out, McElyea singled and moved up to third as Jenn Holtom doubled. After UK recorded the second out, Marci Siler reached on an error, followed by three straight singles. However, with the score 7-5 UK and the winning run on first, Marr got Nelson to ground out to Eilertson at first unassisted.
UK was not as fortunate in the second game as Wichita State scored four unearned runs on five hits and four Wildcat errors to down UK, 4-1.
Cooper (1-2) took to the circle and pitched a very solid game, going the distance butsuffering the loss. Angus and senior Andy Eilertson both finished the game with two hits for UK.
Cooper held the Shockers scoreless through the first three innings before things began to unravel in the field for UK. WSU’s leadoff hitter Jody Lupo singled and moved to second as Stephanie Scott reached on an error by Friberg. Stacy Knight then grounded into a fielder’s choice, erasing Lupo. Audrey Walters then drew a base on balls before Robin Sando had a sacrifice fly, scoring Scott. Nicki Mooers then reached third on a three base error by Nance, scoring both Knight and Walters. After a Tina Lewis single, Mooers came home on a passed ball by Sandi Dengler, giving WSU a 4-0 lead.
UK tried to stage a rally in the top of the seventh after getting one back in the sixth. Friberg led off UK’s last inning by singling, followed by a walk by Nance. Dengler was then hit by a pitch to load the bases, but WSU pitcher Lindsey Craig was able to pitch out of the jam, getting Bowman to pup up to short, Jones to hit into a force at the plate and Angus to fly out to center to end the game.
The Wildcats will close out play in the tournament on Sunday, facing No. 17. Southwest Texas at 9 a.m. CT followed by Texas.
Game OneKentucky 7, Texas-San Antonio 5Kentucky0311200-7 10 6UTSA0010013-5 9 3WP: Howland (2-0). LP: Whitley (1-6). S: none.
Game TwoWichita State 4, Kentucky 1Kentucky0000010-1 6 4Wichita State000400X-4 5 1WP: Craig (2-0). LP: Cooper (1-2). S: none.
-UK-
