The University of Kentucky softball team dropped a pair of close games to Arkansas today, Apr. 15, at the UK Softball Complex. The Lady Razorbacks took game one by a final of 2-1 before sweeping the doubleheader with a 2-0 win in game two. UK falls to 19-26 on the year and 3-18 in Southeastern Conference play, while UA is now 21-26 overall with a 7-13 mark in league play.
The Wildcats scored their lone run of the day in the opening inning of game one. Lori Melchi led off the game with a double to left field and scored when Ashley Fertic reached on a throwing error by the Lady?Back shortstop.
Arkansas tied it in the top of the second on an RBI double by Mindy O?Malley who went 3-for-4 in game one. O?Malley would score from second on a single by Rachel LeMaster which gave the Hogs the 2-0 lead.
The Wildcats had several chances to score, but stranded 11 baserunners in the game. UK left the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth and failed to push across the tying run as UA held on for the one-run win.
Blaire Perry got the win for the Hogs to improve to 6-8 on the year. Perry gave up one run on six hits and struck out seven in 6.1 innings. Katy Henry relieved Perry in the seventh and gave up one hit but did not allow a run to earn her fourth save of the season.
Samantha Allen got the loss for the Cats to drop her record to 1-3. Allen allowed two runs on six hits and struck out three in three innings of work. Amy Kendall threw 4.0 innings of relief and did not allow a run on two hits. Kendall walked two and struck out two.
Melchi continued to hit well at the leadoff spot, going 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Katie Campbell added a double and was hit by a pitch to finish 1-for-3 in the game.
In the second game of the twin bill, Arkansas broke up a scoreless tie with a pair of runs in the fifth on a two-run double by Kayla Johnson.
The Cats threatened in the sixth after Melchi led off with a bunt single and went to second on a single by Megan Miller. Meghan Cooper laid down a sacrifice bunt to put runners at second and third. Campbell went down on strikes and Fertic flew out to left to end the rally and the inning.
Brooke Marnitz led off the seventh with a single, but was stranded at first as the Cats dropped the doubleheader to the Razorbacks.
Jessica Trueblood took the loss for Kentucky to fall to 8-13 on the year. The freshman allowed just two runs on eight hits and struck out six in her 12th complete game of the season.
Henry tossed a complete-game shutout for the Hogs and struck out eight Wildcats en route to her 11th victory of the year.
The Wildcats had six hits on the day, including two by Miller who went 2-for-3 in the loss. Megan Glenn added her fourth double of the season in the fifth inning.
UK returns to action Wednesday, Apr. 19, as it travels down I-64 to take on in-state rival Louisville. The game will be broadcast by WHAS-11 in Louisville and is set to begin at 5 p.m.
