The University of Kentucky softball team swept its home opening doubleheader today against Kent State (0-2) to improve to 5-2 on the year. The Wildcats recorded their first shutout of the season in the opening game with a 9-0 win. UK won game two by a final score of 2-1.
Senior Amy Kendall got the start in game one and shut down the KSU bats, giving up just two hits over 4.0 innings. Kendall (1-0) tied a career high with eight strikeouts and did not allow a run en route to her first win of the year.
The Wildcats won by the run-rule in game one of the twin bill after scoring seven runs in the home half of the first inning. The Cats had six hits in the inning, including a two-run double by Meghan Cooper and a two-run single by Megan Glenn. Senior Lori Melchi also added a run-scoring single and freshman Megan Miller rounded out the scoring with her two-run single to center field.
Kentucky added two runs in the fourth inning when Glenn and Gina Florence each drew bases-loaded walks to give the Cats the 9-0 lead.
Freshman Lydia Pierce pitched the final inning for the Cats. After a one-out walk, Pierce ended the inning with a double play ball to Brooke Marnitz at short to end the game.
The Cats had a season-high ten hits in the nine-run rout. Marnitz with 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored, while Miller was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run. Cooper went 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs, while Glenn finished with a career-high three RBIs.
The Cats sent Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week Jessica Trueblood to the mound in the nightcap. Trueblood gave up a one-out double in the first, but settled down and didn?t allow a hit over the next four innings. Trueblood allowed two walks but struck out a career-high nine batters. She gave up one earned run on two hits in her third complete game to improve to 3-1 on the year.
UK got on the board in the bottom of the third when Glenn singled to lead off the inning. She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ashley Dimkich and went to third on a passed ball. The senior firstbaseman would score on a balk by KSU starter Brittney Robinson.
The Wildcats made it 2-0 in the fourth when Alli Eckman led off the inning with a solo homer to left field. Eckman is now tied with Marnitz for the team-lead with two long balls this season.
The Golden Flashes would score their lone run of the day in the top of the sixth after a leadoff walk and a run-scoring double. Trueblood stranded the runner at second and ended the KSU threat as she struck out the cleanup hitter to end the inning.
Trueblood got a pop-up to short and struck out two in the seventh to retire the side in order and give the Cats their fifth win of the year.
?We played good in the first game and Amy Kendall was great on the mound, but I think we kind of fell asleep towards the end,? said head coach Eileen Schmidt. ?That?s all part of learning to put people away but I?m happy about getting two wins today. Jessica (Trueblood) struggled a little bit early, but she settled in and pitched well. Good teams find a way to win.?
The series concludes tomorrow, Feb. 17, with the third and final game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the UK Softball Complex.
