SAN DIEGO, Calif. ? The University of Kentucky softball team fell to Loyola Marymount (7-4) today, Feb. 26, by a final score of 7-1 in the Cats? final game of the 2006 Aztec Invitational in San Diego, Calif. Kentucky falls to 7-6 on the year with the loss.

Junior Brooke Marnitz, who hit for the cycle barely 14 hours prior to the LMU game, set a new school record with four walks. Marnitz broke the previous record of three which was held by four Wildcats, including third baseman Meghan Cooper who walked three times on March 15, 2005, against Georgia.

LMU got on the board early with three runs on three hits in the top of the first, including a three-run homer by Hillarree Bennett.

The Wildcats had just four hits on the day, all singles and scored their lone run of the contest in the home half of the first. Megan Miller bunted for a base hit and moved to third on a pair of sacrifices by Cooper and Ashley Fertic. Miller scored on an RBI single to center field by Katie Campbell.

LMU added two runs in the second on three hits before UK starter Amy Kendall regrouped and retired the next three batters. Kendall stayed sharp in the circle and sat down nine straight batters. She allowed just three Lions to reach base the rest of the way until they scored two more runs in the top of the seventh.

Kendall took the loss and moved to 2-2 on the year after allowing seven runs on 11 hits over 6.0 innings. Kendall did not walk a batter and struck out five on the day. Lindsay Brogdon relieved Kendall in the ninth and retired the side in order.

Campbell finished 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI, while Miller was 1-for-4 with a run scored.

The Cats return to action next Friday, Mar. 3, when they host Morehead State in their first game of the UK Frostbite Classic. Game time is set for 5 p.m. at the UK Softball Complex.