LAS VEGAS, Nev. ? The University of Kentucky softball team fell to UNLV today, Feb. 12, by a final score of 3-2 in its final game of the UNLV Alexis Resort Kickoff Classic. The Wildcats fall to 3-2 on the year, while the Rebels are now 4-1.
The Cats recorded wins over No. 13 Washington, Illinois-Chicago and Long Beach State this weekend to end the tournament with a 3-2 mark.
?We played some tough teams and we played well,? said head coach Eileen Schmidt. ?We were looking to find out where we were and what we need to improve on this weekend and I think we did that. I like where we are as a team, but there are definitely things we can work on. Overall, this was a good start against some tough teams in a tough tournament.?
UNLV scored an unearned run in the bottom of the third to take a 1-0 lead. Jessica Trueblood got out of the jam and stranded a runner at third to end the Rebel rally.
The Wildcats quickly tied it when Meghan Cooper singled to lead off the top of the fourth. Katie Campbell laid down her second sac bunt of the game to move Cooper to second. The tying run scored when Cooper beat a throw to the plate on an RBI single to shortstop by Megan Glenn. Pinch runner Jenny Sibert sped to third on a groundout by Ashley Dimkich and came around to score on a double off the left field wall by Lori Melchi to put the Cats on top 2-1.
The Rebels took the lead on back-to-back home runs to left to lead off the top of the fourth and take a 3-2 lead. Amy Kendall relieved Trueblood and retired the side in order.
Kendall was sharp through the next two innings. The senior allowed a single to lead off the fifth but the runner was called out for leaving early and Kendall didn?t allow a runner to reach base the rest of the way.
Megan Miller singled with one out in the top of the seventh, but the Wildcat threat was ended as Alli Eckman flew out to right and Ashley Fertic struck out to end the game.
Trueblood (2-1) suffered her first loss of the year after giving up three runs on three hits in 3.0 innings. Kendall allowed just one hit and struck out one in her three innings of work.
Miller went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles, while Glenn finished 1-for-2 with an RBI. Melchi added a double and an RBI in three at-bats.
?We played a good game today, but we just didn?t get timely hits when we needed them,? said Schmidt. ?Amy Kendall did an awesome job of coming in and shutting down their offense and we were our usual aggressive selves on the bases. We played well, but it just didn?t work out today.?
The Cats return to action next weekend, Feb. 18-19, when they host Kent State in a three-game series at the UK Softball Complex. The home opener begins with a Saturday doubleheader at 1 p.m.
