CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Chattanooga freshman Lauren Flores belted a walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the 10th inning to propel the host Lady Mocs past the University of Kentucky 9-6, Sunday afternoon in a wild affair. Kentucky also fell 6-2, in the morning game in Chattanooga, Tenn.
In the final game at the Chattanooga Shootout, the teams needed almost three hours and 10 innings to decide the contest. Kentucky (2-2, 0-0) put the pressure on in the 10th inning after sophomore Molly Johnson doubled to give the Wildcats a 6-5 lead. With the bases loaded the freshman knocked home the winning runs to give Chattanooga the victory.
After an offensive onslaught of tallying four runs in three innings Kentucky gave up a four-run sixth inning and headed into the seventh inning trailing by a single run. Freshman Meagan Aull hit a shot at the center fielder who dropped the catch, resulting in Aull reaching third base. Freshman Megan Yocke smacked an RBI game-tying single to even the score at 5-5. UK held Chattanooga in the seventh inning by sitting down three straight batters to go into extra innings.
The Wildcats broke open the scoring in the bottom of the fourth. Johnson got the inning started with her second hit of the game a single up the middle. The sophomore then swiftly stole second, putting in her scoring position. Junior Becky Bishop ripped a shot to right-center and Johnson scored from second giving the visitors an early 1-0 advantage.
Chattanooga quickly responded with a run in the top of the inning to knot the score at one. Chattanooga scored when they sent the third base runner on a force out at first, as she beat out the throw to home plate. Kentucky got out of the inning when sophomore Destinee Mordecai made a spectacular diving catch over the shoulder in deep left field to end the inning.
Mordecai gave the Wildcats a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth when she belted her first career solo home run to deep left field. The round tripper is also the first of the season for the Blue and White.
Kentucky added runs in the sixth inning after Johnson tallied her third hit of the afternoon up the left side. Bishop laid down a beautifully placed sacrifice bunt to advance Johnson into scoring position. Freshman Annie Rowlands? RBI single up the middle brought in Johnson from second. Rowlands followed with some swift base running, a steal of second and then a passed ball pushed her to third. Senior Ashley Dimkich smacked a fly ball to deep right field for an RBI sacrifice fly to bring Rowlands home and pushing the UK lead to 4-1.
The lead immediately turned into a deficit after Chattanooga?s Michelle Fuzzard sent a two-run home run over the right field fence in the sixth inning leading the way for a four-run sixth inning giving the Lady Mocs a 5-4 advantage.
Sophomore pitcher Amber Matousek went the distance for the Cats and fell to 1-1 on the season despite striking out seven batters. Johnson led the way offensively, going 4-5 on the day with a double and a triple and one RBI.
In game one, the Wildcats fell behind early against Wichita State (1-2, 0-0) and eventually fell 6-2 at the hands of the Shockers. Wichita State jumped out with one run in the first and a two-run third inning to take an early 3-0 lead they would never relinquish. Kentucky responded with a run in the third thanks to an RBI single from sophomore Natalie Smith.
After Wichita State tacked on another run in the fifth, UK responded with a run of their own to bring the score to 4-2. Freshman Megan Aull got the inning started with a single and was brought home on a Johnson double. The Shockers brought in relief pitcher Ashley Bright who tossed two and two-third innings and stuck out nine batters to secure the save for Wichita State.
UK generated a lot of offense against Wichita State registering seven hits, but crossing the plate was an issue as the Blue and White stranded eight runners.
The Wildcats return to the field Thurs., Feb. 14, in Hawaii as the team will face nationally ranked Hawaii in the first night of the University of Hawaii Tournament. Complete coverage of the Wildcats can be found at www.ukathletics.com.
