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The University of Kentucky softball team snapped an eight-game losing skid today, Mar. 23, with a pair of shutout wins over Marshall (14-11). The Wildcats are now 14-22 after a 2-0 win in game one, followed by a 9-0 five-inning victory in the nightcap.
In the opening game, starter Meghan Cooper did not allow a run over her 5.2 innings of work. She gave up eight hits and walked one while striking out three batters. The Wildcat defense stranded four runners at third with Cooper on the mound. Samantha Allen relieved Cooper to toss the final 1.1 innings and did not allow a run as UK went on to earn its fourth shutout of the season.
The Wildcats plated a run in the third as Brooke Marnitz singled, moved to second on a wild pitch and went to third after Amber Nix was hit by a pitch and Lori Melchi drew a two-out walk to load the bases. Alli Eckman then drew a base on balls to score Marnitz from third and give UK the 1-0 lead.
Kentucky added to its lead in the fifth as Eckman singled and went to second on an error by the Herd centerfielder. She would score from third on a groundout to shortstop by Cooper to give the Cats the 2-0 win.
In the second game, Allen went the distance as the Cats scored nine runs on eight hits and drew eight walks from the Marshall pitchers. Eckman gave up just four hits and walked one while striking out three in the 5.0 inning win.
UK scored all nine runs in the home half of the fourth on six singles and five walks in that inning alone. Fourteen Wildcats batted in the inning. Eckman went 2-for-2 with three RBIs in the fourth, while Ashley Fertic, Jenny Sibert, Cooper and Melchi each drove in a run. Marnitz singled to left with the bases loaded to drive in two runs in the frame.
Eckman had a career-day, setting new personal bests with three hits and three runs batted in. She also scored a run. Marnitz finished 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs.
?I thought we did a good job of getting past the five-inning hump,? said head coach Eileen Schmidt. ?To this point, we?ve had trouble putting together a complete game. It?s good to get on a roll and take this momentum into our weekend series at Mississippi State.?
UK returns to action this weekend, Mar. 25-26, at MSU. The three-game series begins with a Friday doubleheader at 5 p.m., followed by a single Saturday game scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. in Starkville, Miss.
