April 26, 2002

AUBURN, Ala. – The University of Kentucky, looking to snap a school-record 10-game Southeastern Conference losing skid, will play a three game series with host Auburn starting on Saturday, April 27 at the Auburn Softball Complex. The series will get underway with a noon CDT doubleheader and conclude on Sunday with a single game set to start at noon CDT.

The Wildcats (21-29, 3-18 SEC) are looking to rebound after being swept by No. 25 (USA Today/NFCA) Georgia this past Wednesday and Thursday in Athens, Ga. The series sweep ensured the Cats of a sub .500 record for the second consecutive season and was very damaging to UK’s postseason aspirations.

Junior Lyndsey Angus leads the Blue and White offense in conference games, hitting at a .390 clip against the pitching staffs of the SEC. Senior Andy Eilertson leads the Cats with 35 runs driven in while Angus is next on the team with 28.

UK has been without the full services of seniors Beth Fogle and Angie Dal Pozzo and junior Nikki Jones of late due to various injuries.

The Tigers enter the series with an overall record of 31-20 and are 9-12 in the SEC, fighting for one of the final spots in the conference tournament. AU has won three straight and five of their last six including SEC series victories over both Mississippi State and Tennessee. Ashley Moore leads the Tigers offensively in batting average (.368), runs scored (42), home runs (15) and is tied for the team lead with 30 RBI. Kristen Keyes leads the Tiger pitching staff with a 1.69 ERA and an overall record of 16-10 with eight saves.

The two teams have met 11 times with UK holding a slight 6-5 advantage in the series. The Cats, which are 1-3 all-time when traveling to the Plains, took two out of three in the series in Lexington, Ky., last year. The Cats lone victory at Auburn came in game one of the 1999 doubleheader, 7-6. Auburn is the only conference team UK had a winning record against coming into the season.

-UK-