UK’s rally came up one-run short in 4-3 loss
Athens, Ga. -? The Kentucky softball team’s late-game rally came up short, as UK lost the final game of the series 4-3 to the No. 7 Georgia Bulldogs Thursday in Athens, Ga. Amber Janneck and Katie Campbell each had multi-hit games for the Cats, who fell to 13-13-1 overall and 2-10 in Southeastern Conference play this season.
Down 4-2, the Cats made a late rally in the sixth, as Janneck and Campbell teamed up with consecutive base hits with only one out in the inning. Meghan Cooper then juiced the bases with a bunt that was bobbled from the UG third baseman. Pinch hitter Lori Melchi made the Bulldogs pay with a bases-loaded walk that brought in Janneck to bring UK within striking distance at 4-3.
Rachel Friberg singled in the top of the seventh before Janneck blasted her third hit of the afternoon to right field that advanced Friberg to third with two outs. But UG ace Michelle Green came through in the clutch, getting Campbell to pop up to the shortstop to end the game.
Gretchen Prugh (2-1) had the best game of her young career in the loss. The freshman gave up only two earned runs while fanning two Bulldogs in the complete game. Green (13-2) also went the distance for UG, recording her ninth 10-plus strikeout game of the year with 13 K’s. The Cats scattered eight hits off Green during the contest.
UK jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the fourth, as Janneck and Campbell reached on consecutive base hits to lead off the frame. A wild pitch from Green advanced both runners to scoring position, and Cooper took advantage of the UG miscue with a sacrifice fly to center that brought in Janneck. Campbell rounded the bases one play later on an RBI single from Brooke Marnitz.
Georgia (26-5, 5-1 SEC) reclaimed the lead in the bottom half of the fourth, as Green led off the frame with a home run to bring the Bulldogs within one, 2-1. Courtney Knight and Kasi Carroll reached on a single an error, respectively, and Shannon McKeon gave UG a one-run lead with a two-RBI double to right center. The Bulldogs added another in the fifth for a 4-2 cushion.
The Cats return to action this weekend, when they host Alabama in a weekend series at the UK Softball Complex. First pitch Saturday is set for 1 p.m.
