UK improves to 5-1 on the season

Monroe, La. ?- The Kentucky softball team swept its final two games of the Mardi Gras Classic in Monroe, La., on Sunday, Feb. 8. The Cats defeated Georgia Tech 5-3 before beating Gardner Webb 1-0 in the second game of the day. Senior Crystalie Wolfe pitched the second one-hitter of her career in the win against the Bulldogs.

UK scored four runs in the sixth inning to come from behind and beat Georgia Tech. The Cats (5-1) were down 3-1 heading into the sixth, with the lone score coming on a solo homer from freshman Emily Marks in the second. A double from Amber Janneck and an RBI single from Rachel Friberg started the Cat rally and narrowed the lead to 3-2. Lori Melchi followed with a base hit, and Brooke Marnitz crushed a ball down the third base line that was bobbled by GT?s third baseman, allowing Friberg and Melchi to score. Marnitz provided the final run for UK on an RBI single from Marks.

Megan Cooper struck out the first two batters in the third, but walks to Tara Knudsen and Lauren Schlecte put runners in scoring position for Liz Bartle, who hit a three-run homer to put the Yellow Jackets up 3-1. Cooper came in relief for UK starter Amy Kendall, who left the game in the second inning with one out after being hit by a line drive in the head.

Erin Voeltz went the distance for Georgia Tech (2-1), giving up six hits and two earned runs while fanning nine Cats. Cooper earned the win for Kentucky in 5.2 innings of work.

The Cats scored the lone run in the 1-0 win against Gardner Webb in the sixth inning. Cooper continued her impressive weekend with the game-winning RBI double, driving in Friberg from first base. The sophomore went 2-for-3 with two of UK?s four hits in the contest. Wolfe was stellar on the mound for the Cats, giving up only one hit to the Bulldogs in the fourth inning, while striking out four on the day.

The Cats return to action on Feb. 13-15 in San Antonio, Texas, at the University of Texas-San Antonio Tournament. UK opens play on Friday with Kansas.