SAN DIEGO, Calif. ? The University of Kentucky softball team dropped a pair of games today, Feb. 24, in the opening day of the Aztec Invitational in San Diego, Calif. The Wildcats fall to 6-4 after they lost to Long Beach State (5-5) by a score of 7-2 and then dropped a 1-0 decision to Colorado State (10-4).
The Wildcats scored first in their opening game of the afternoon in the top of the first inning. Brooke Marnitz singled to left to lead off the inning and stole second. She would come around to score when Ashley Fertic reached on an error by the LBSU second baseman.
The 49ers took a 4-1 lead in the bottom of the third as they scored four runs on five hits and one Wildcat error. LBSU added a three-spot in the home half of the sixth to take a 7-1 lead.
The Cats plated their second and final run of the day in the top of the seventh. Megan Glenn singled to shortstop to start the inning. Pinch runner Ali Ray went to third when Lori Melchi reached base on an error. Gina Florence followed with an RBI groundout to account for the 7-2 final.
Marnitz went 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Glenn and Melchi each went 1-for-3 and extended their team-best hitting streaks to five games.
Amy Kendall got the loss on the mound to move to 2-1 on the year. The senior gave up four runs on five hits in 2.2 innings of work.
In the nightcap, Jessica Trueblood took the mound and pitched well for the Cats. The freshman struck out seven and walked just two in the complete game. Trueblood gave up just three hits, but one was a solo home run to left in the top of the third which was the only run of the game. Trueblood moves to 3-2 with the loss.
The Cats outhit the Rams with five singles on the day, but no runner advanced past first base as CSU starter Kim Klabough moved to 6-0 on the year.
Glenn extended her game-high hitting streak to six straight game after singling in her first at-bat of the game.
?This was a disappointing day but not because of the outcome, but because of our lack of effort and toughness,? said second-year head coach Eileen Schmidt. ?We definitely didn?t play to our full potential and with the effort we played with in Vegas or against Kent State. The end of the second game was a little better, but we shot ourselves in the foot too early on. At least we got back on the right track for tomorrow.?
The Cats will face tournament-host San Diego State at 6:45 p.m. (ET) in their first game on Saturday. UK goes against Indiana State in the final game of the day with the first pitch slated for 11:15 p.m. ET.
