March 16, 2002
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Senior Andy Eilertson went 2-for-4 with a home run, a triple and four RBI in game two as the University of Kentucky softball team split its’ Southeastern Conference opening doubleheader with the University of Florida on Saturday, March 16, at the Florida Softball Field. The Cats lost the first game, 6-1, but bounced back and won the second, 7-6. The series split moves the Wildcats to 15-10 on the season and 1-1 in SEC play. The game two victory was UK’s first ever win in Gainesville and broke UK’s four-game losing streak to the Gators.
The Wildcats struck early in the second game of the double-dip, putting three runs on the board in the top of the first. Senior Beth Fogle led off the game with a single to leftfield and junior Nikki Jones followed with a single before Eilertson smacked her two-out, three-run home run down the leftfield line to give the Cats the quick 3-0 lead.
UF got one back in the bottom of the first but the Cats responded with a run in the top of the second as senior Sandi Dengler doubled to left and came home on Jones’ sacrifice fly to center.
UK added two in the third as Eilertson’s triple scored junior Lyndsey Angus, who reached on an error. Sophomore Rachel Friberg’s sacrifice fly brought home Eilertson and the route seemed to be on as the Cats were up 6-1 after two-and-a-half innings.
The Wildcats added one in the top of the sixth to take a 7-3 lead, but the Gators refused to quit, lighting up the scoreboard twice in the bottom of the sixth to close the gap to two runs, 7-5.
After a three-up, three-down inning for the Cats, the Gators gave it one last try. A leadoff double by Mylin Prieto forced UK Coach Beth Kirchner to summon freshman Meghan Cooper from the bullpen. After recording an out, which moved Prieto to third, Prissie Walden reached on an error, scoring Prieto. A single moved Walden to second, placing the tying run at second and the winning run on first. Cooper maintained her composure however, getting the next hitter to ground into a fielder’s choice and striking out the final hitter with runners on first and third.
Howland (5-2) earned the win for the Cats with her 6.0 innings of work while Cooper picked up her second career save. Fogle finished the game 3-for-3 with three singles, a walk and two runs scored while Jones extended her hitting streak to 14 games, going 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
“It was great to get our first ever victory on Florida’s field,” Kirchner said. “I was really pleased with our offense in the second game and was extremely happy with the pitching combination of Jennifer Howland and Meghan Cooper.”
In the day’s first game, Florida pitcher Amanda Moore scattered four hits over seven innings and allowed just one unearned run as the Gators downed UK, 6-1.
UF got on the board early and often, putting four runs on the board in the bottom of the second inning. Three singles, two doubles and a walk all contributed to the big inning for the Gators, who followed that with two more runs in the bottom of the third.
UK’s lone run came in the top of the seventh as Friberg singled, moved over to second on a single by Jessica Nance and moved to third as the UF first baseman tried to scoop the ball on the throw, which Nance had beaten, but missed. Friberg then touched home as Moore threw a wild pitch with two out.
Cooper was saddled with her third loss of the season, allowing six runs on nine hits over the course of six innings.
The Cats and Gators will close out the three-game series on Sunday, March 17, with a single game. Start time is set for noon ET.
Game OneKentucky0000001-1 4 2Florida042000X-6 9 2WP: Moore (6-8). LP: Cooper (7-3). S: none.
Game TwoKentucky3120010-7 11 2Florida1020021-6 8 1WP: Howland (5-2). LP: Knowles (5-5). S: Cooper (2).
-UK-
