LEXINGTON, Ky. ? The University of Kentucky softball team, winners of nine of its last 10 games, will take offensive momentum into Knoxville this weekend as Southeastern Conference play opens with a trip to the defending national runners-up Tennessee Lady Volunteers Saturday and Sunday.
Tennessee (23-3, 1-2) ranked in the top-10 in both collegiate softball polls are off to another quick start, with only one of their losses being outside of the ever-competitive SEC. They opened conference play last weekend and went 1-and-2 against No. 3 Alabama.
Kentucky (11-8, 0-0) is the only team in the SEC that has yet to play a conference opponent. The Wildcats have endured schedule changes in the past week, as its home tournament the Frostbite Classic was cancelled due to snowy weather, but they were able to pick up a mid-week doubleheader with Morehead State on Wednesday. The Wildcats racked up 20 hits and 13 runs in two games over the visiting Eagles, winning both by the scores of 5-3 and 7-1. The combined 13 runs in two games, was more total runs than the Eagles had surrendered during their 12-game winning streak to open the year.
Sophomore Molly Johnson extended her hitting streak to six-games, tying a career-long which she set to start the season. Johnson has safely hit in six consecutive outings, which is the longest such streak this season by any UK player. Johnson has batted 8-for-17 with four RBI, including a double and a triple in her last six outings. The sophomore leads the team in batting average (.431), hits (25), doubles (6), triples (2), home runs (2), stolen bases (6), RBI (14) and slugging percentage (.707). Additionally, she has started 70 consecutive games for the Blue and White.
During its last 10 games Kentucky has outscored its opponents 71-30 and scored in double figures in three games. Kentucky is outscoring its opponent 24-12 in the sixth inning and is a perfect 9-0 when leading through six. The 24 runs in the sixth frame are more than in any other inning.
Tennessee holds an all-time 27-7 record over their border-state counterparts. Only once in the 11-year series has Kentucky swept the Lady Vols, when they took all four meetings in 2000 series. This will be the first meeting between the two schools in Knoxville since 2005. They have met every season with the exception of 2002. UT is currently on a seven-game winning streak over the Wildcats.
Complete coverage and live results of the games this weekend can be found by visiting www.ukathletics.com.
