LEXINGTON, Ky. ? The University of Kentucky softball team will meet in-state rival Louisville for the 20th time in program history riding a seven-game winning streak Wednesday, March 5, at the UK Softball Complex.
Kentucky?s stretch of seven wins is the second-most in school history. The record is eight-straight set in 2005. The Wildcats have been riding high since taking third place at the Hawai?i Shootout and have strung together six wins since returning to the main land, outscoring their opponents 54-19. The Blue and White have also totaled double-digit scoring figures in three of those games.
This past weekend UK went undefeated in four contests at the Chattanooga Frost Classic. The Wildcats got wins over Wright State (5-1), Marshall (10-4), Eastern Illinois (5-1) and Indiana (10-5). Sophomore pitcher Amber Matousek was a perfect 2-0 for UK in the circle, striking out 10 batters to move her season total to 44 in just nine appearances. She has now amassed more strikeouts this season than in 23 appearances in all of last season.
Sophomore Natalie Smith was a big factor in two UK wins. Against Wright State she belted her second career home run to help stretch a thinning Kentucky lead in the sixth inning. Smith was a perfect 3-for-3 at the dish against Wright State which also included a double.
Kentucky is outscoring its opponent 22-12 in the sixth inning and is a perfect 7-0 when leading through six. The 22 runs scored in the sixth frame are more than in any other inning. Trailing by one run the Kentucky softball team plated six scores in the top of the sixth inning to earn a 10-5, win over Indiana. Smith?s double and freshman Annie Rowlands? first career home run ignited the six-run inning securing the fourth win of the weekend.
The Wildcats also used a bit of power-ball as four Wildcats sent their first career home runs over the fence in Chattanooga. Freshmen Meagan Aull, Samantha DeMartine and Annie Rowlands and senior Ashley Dimkich all recorded their first round tripper.
Adding to the successful weekend, Head Coach Rachel Lawson won her 100th career game when UK took a 5-1 win over Eastern Illinois in the second game Saturday. Kentucky and Louisville have previously met 19 times on the softball field, with UK holding a 12-7 advantage. The first meeting between the two school?s was March 29, 2000, in Lexington, where the Cardinals took a 2-0 victory. UK has twice had a three-game winning streak over their state rivals in the series.
Complete coverage and live stats of the game against the Cardinals will be available at www.ukathletics.com.
