LEXINGTON, Ky. ? The Kentucky softball team downed in-state rival Eastern Kentucky tonight, Apr. 10, by a final score of 8-7 to improve their record to 19-17 on the year. The Colonels fall to 18-19 with the loss. UK is now 3-1 against Kentucky schools this year with the lone loss coming against Western Kentucky last Thursday in Lexington.
The Wildcats broke open a scoreless game in the home half of the second. Molly Johnson singled to left to lead off the inning and went to second on an infield single by Ashley Fertic. The bases were loaded when Ashley Dimkich reached on a fielder?s choice. Natalie Smith followed with a two-run single to give the Cats a 2-0 lead. Kentucky made it a three-run lead on an RBI single by Audrey Meyer.
Kentucky added to its cushion on Alli Eckman?s third home run of the season. Eckman belted a solo shot over the left field wall to put the Wildcats on top by a score of 4-0.
UK starter Amber Matousek shut down the Colonel lineup in the early goings. The freshman retired the first eight batters she faced and did not allow a hit until Pam Webber recorded a two-out single in the top of the third.
EKU erased the shutout in the fourth when Amy Mayrhofer drew a walk and came around to score on a two-run homer by Kelsey Anderson.
UK scored in the third straight inning when it plated a single run in the bottom of the fourth. Smith drew a one-out walk and scored on a single to left by Katie Campbell to make it a 5-2 Wildcat edge.
The Colonels knotted the score in the top of the fifth. Two runs scored on a double by Sheyenne Hussey and the third run came across on an RBI single off the wall in center by Anderson. The Wildcats committed a pair of errors in the inning to aid the EKU comeback.
The Wildcats re-claimed the lead in the sixth inning. Smith doubled to right-center and scored on a double to center by Meyer. Brooke Marnitz, who had walked in two previous trips to the plate, followed with her 18th home run of the season to give the Cats an 8-5 advantage.
EKU cut the lead to a run in the top of the seventh on a two-run shot over the fence in right field by Adriel Foxley. Marnitz made a diving snag at shortstop and Dimkich made an equally stellar stretch at first to end the game as UK held on for the one-run victory.
Kentucky collected 11 hits, reaching double digits in base knocks for the first time since Mar. 21 when they had 12 hits against Marshall. This was the 14th time the Wildcats had 10 or more hits in a game this season.
Smith, Meyer, Marnitz and Johnson each had two hits on the day. Smith was 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and two RBI. Meyer finished 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI and scored a run in the win. Marnitz hit her 18th homer of the season and is now tied for first all-time at UK with her teammate Campbell. Marnitz doubled and homered in the win, while Johnson went 2-for-4 with two singles and scored a run. Eckman and Campbell added an RBI apiece in the win, while Fertic was 1-for-3 with a single and a run scored.
Megan Jolly tossed two innings of relief and earned the win after giving up two earned runs on two hits in 2.0 innings of work. She showed good control and did not walk a batter en route to her seventh win of the season. Jolly?s record improves to 7-6.
The Wildcats continue this four-game non-conference action tomorrow afternoon, Apr. 11, when they travel to Louisville to take on the Cardinals in a single game set for 5 p.m.
