The Kentucky softball team fell in seven innings today, Mar. 30, to No. 5 Tennessee by a score of 8-0 and dropped the Southeastern Conference series to the Lady Vols. The Wildcats fall to 14-19 on the year and 2-13 in SEC play, while UT improves to 30-4 overall with a 5-4 mark in the SEC.
UT sent its ace, Monica Abbott, to the mound for the third straight game against the Cats. UK managed just two hits against the 6-4 lefty in the eight-run loss.
UK starter Jessica Trueblood pitched well in the early goings for the Cats, stranding four UT baserunners through the first two innings. The Lady Vols got on the board in the third after Trueblood hit a batter and then gave up a two-run homer.
For the second straight day, senior Lori Melchi broke up Abbott?s no-hitter with a single to right field in the third inning. Junior Brooke Marnitz was intentionally walked to put runners at first and second with two outs and a two-run lead, but freshman Megan Miller struck out swinging to end the UK rally.
Trueblood retired the side in order in the fourth, thanks to the Wildcats? 11th double play of the season on a liner to second base. Gina Florence and Megan Glenn doubled up Liane Horiuchi who had walked to lead off the inning.
The Vols added a three-spot in the top of the fifth to take a 5-0 lead after scoring three runs on four hits, including three doubles. Senior Amy Kendall relieved Trueblood in the frame and struck out Horiuchi to end the inning.
UT made it an 8-0 lead with a two-run homer and a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh.
Abbott retired the side in order in the bottom of the seventh as the Cats dropped their sixth straight SEC contest.
The Wildcat defense continued to play well, committing no errors for the fourth consecutive game. Melchi and Katie Campbell recorded the two hits for UK in the loss.
Abbott improves to 20-3 on the year after giving up no runs on two hits and striking out 12 in the complete-game shutout. Trueblood (5-10) got the loss, allowing four runs on five hits with five strikeouts in 4.1 innings of work.
The Cats return to action this weekend, Apr. 1-2, when they host No. 4 Alabama for three games at the UK Softball Complex. The three-game series includes a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. and wraps up with a single game on Sunday, set for a 12:30 p.m. start.
