The Kentucky softball team used a six-run sixth inning to win its 11th game of the season today, Mar. 4, with a 12-5 victory over IUPUI in the fifth and final game of the Frostbite Classic at the UK Softball Complex. The Wildcats improve to 11-4 and posted double digits in hits and runs for the fourth straight game. IUPUI falls to 0-7 on the season with the loss.
After a scoreless first, the Wildcats got on the board in the bottom of the second. Molly Johnson doubled to lead off the inning and came around to score on a double to left field by Katie Campbell. Ashley Fertic hit a one-out double to left-center to put runners at second and third for Destinee Mordecai who delivered a bases-clearing triple to put Kentucky ahead 4-0. Audrey Meyer followed with a sacrifice fly to left field to bring in Mordecai to make it a five-run cushion for the Wildcats.
IUPUI scored a run in the top of the third after a pair of hits, including an RBI single by Jenna Crockett. The Jaguars loaded the bases and brought in another run when Keshia Loweth was hit by a Jennifer Young pitch to cut the lead to three at 5-2. Young struck out Susan Jones to leave the bags full and end the inning.
UK got one of those runs back in the top of the third. Alli Eckman singled to right and went to second on a throwing error by the IUPUI right fielder. She moved to third on a groundout by Fertic and scored on Becky Bishop?s triple off the top of the wall in right field to give UK a 6-2 advantage.
The Jaguars struck again in the top of the fourth when Meaghan Raynes hit a two-run homer over the wall in left to cut the UK lead to two runs at 6-4.
IUPUI made it a one-run game in the sixth when Cassie Harvey doubled and scored on a single by Raynes.
The Wildcats added to their lead in the sixth with a two-out rally. Natalie Smith reached on an error and scored on Brooke Marnitz?s team-leading eighth homerun of the year and her second in as many days to put UK on top, 8-5. Johnson and Campbell each reached on sharp singles to right field and Ashley Dimkich drove in the pair with a double off the wall in right field to give UK a 10-5 lead. Fertic followed with her first homerun of the season ? a shot over the left field wall ? to make it a 12-5 game.
Megan Jolly tossed two innings of shutout relief for the Wildcats, while Young earned the win to improve to 6-3 on the year. Young allowed three earned runs on seven hits while striking out three in 5.0 innings of work.
The Wildcats had 13 hits on the day, including eight for extra bases. Campbell went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI, while Fertic finished 2-for-4 with a double, a homer and two RBI. Marnitz and Dimkich each drove in a pair of runs and Mordecai added three RBI with her second triple of the season.
The Wildcat defense played well despite two errors and turned two double plays in the game to bring its total to seven on the year.
The Wildcats return to action this Wednesday, Mar. 7, when they host in-state rival Louisville. The single game is set for a 5:30 p.m. start at the UK Softball Complex.
