Box Scores: |
The University of Kentucky softball team fell to 15-29 on the year and 2-15 in the Southeastern Conference as it dropped a pair of five-inning games to the visiting Gamecocks of South Carolina (24-14, 7-5 SEC). USC took game one by a score of 12-2 and won the final game 10-1.
The Gamecocks took an early 3-0 lead on one hit, three walks and a hit by pitch in the top of the first. USC added a five-spot in the second as three Kentucky pitchers faced eight batters in the inning. Freshman Kristi Warneke came in to retire the final batter of the inning.
The Wildcats got on the board in the home half of the second as Katie Campbell homered to left field to drive in Jessica Nance who had reached on a fielder?s choice earlier in the inning. The homer was the fifth for Campbell this season.
USC added four more runs in the third to take a 10-run advantage at 12-2. Gamecock reliever Kate Pouliot earned the win after tossing the final three innings. Pouliot (6-5) allowed just one hit and no runs through the final three frames as the Gamecocks won in five.
Kendall (0-2) took the loss after giving up four earned runs on one hit and three walks in an inning of work.
In the second game of the afternoon doubleheader, the Gamecocks once again got on the board first. USC scored four times on six hits, including a two-run homer by Becky Martinez. Kendall came in to relieve starter Meghan Cooper and pitched well, allowing one earned run on three hits with three strikeouts in 2.2 innings of work.
UK scored its first run of the game in the second as Nance led off with a single and moved to third on a double off the wall by Campbell to put runners at the corners. Lori Melchi followed with a single through the left side to score Nance from third and make the score 4-1.
The Gamecocks batted around for the second time in the game in the fifth and made it a nine-run lead as they plated six runs on a pair of homeruns off relievers Allen and Warneke.
USC?s Aleca Johnson (4-2) got the win as she gave up just one run on seven hits and struck out five in a five-inning complete game.
Cooper (5-13) got the loss after South Carolina scored three earned runs on four hits in 1.1 innings off the UK starter. Nance went 2-for-3 with a run scored in the loss.
The Wildcats return to action Wednesday, Apr. 6, when they host the Colonels of Eastern Kentucky at the UK Softball Complex. First pitch for the single game is scheduled for 6 p.m.
