The Kentucky softball team fell for the third time in two days, 6-2, to the fourth-ranked LSU Tigers Sunday at the UK Softball Complex. The Cats (21-23-1, 5-19 Southeastern Conference) were led at the plate by senior Rachel Friberg, who went a perfect 3-for-3 with a run in the losing cause.

The Tigers jumped on the board quickly in the first, as LaDonia Hughes led off the game with an infield single and advanced to third on a stolen base and error from UK. Hughes gave LSU a 1-0 lead on an RBI single from Stephanie Hill three batters and two outs later.

Friberg knotted the game in the bottom of the frame, as she too led off the order with a base hit. Jessica Nance advanced Friberg to second on sacrifice bunt, and a double from Amber Janneck moved the senior another base. Brooke Marnitz provided the RBI by grounding out to the LSU third baseman, allowing Friberg to score from third.

Leigh Anne Danos put LSU up 4-1 in the third with a three-run home run, and the Tigers provided the final knockout in the fourth on RBI singles from Lauren Castle and Hill. Lori Melchi scored the Cats? final run of the game in the third by way of a sacrifice fly from Jessica Nance. LSU ace Kristin Schmidt (23-4) faced a mere 15 batters over the last four innings of play and sat down nine consecutive batters after the RBI from Nance. She ended the game with eight strikeouts and two earned runs.

Amy Kendall (7-13) took the loss in the complete game, giving up 11 hits and five earned runs while fanning two Tigers. LSU (39-7, 16-4 SEC) recorded five stolen bases throughout the afternoon but left eight batters on the bags, four of which were in scoring position.

Hughes and Hill ended the game with three hits apiece for the visiting team. Hughes also scored two runs for LSU, while Hill added a run and two RBIs.

The Cats return to action this Wednesday, when they travel to Bowling Green, Ky., for a meeting with intrastate rival Western Kentucky. Game times for the doubleheader are set for 4 and 6 p.m.