LEXINGTON, Ky. ? The University of Kentucky softball team used balanced offense on its way to a 7-3, non-conference win over Miami (Ohio) Monday afternoon at the UK Softball Complex.
Kentucky (13-10, 1-2) tallied 13 total hits while five players registered multiple hits on the afternoon. Sophomore Molly Johnson extended her career-long hitting streak to 10 games with a single in the first inning. She corralled another hit in the third while also plating a run. Classmate Destinee Mordecai enjoyed a 2-for-2 day at the dish that included a two-run double to put the game out of reach in the fourth frame. Sophomore Natalie Smith, freshman Megan Yocke and senior Ashley Dimkich were the other Wildcats with two hits a piece.
Senior Audrey Meyer recorded a hit for the fourth consecutive game when she singled in the fifth inning. In her last four outings Meyer has gone a staggering 8-for-13 at the plate.
Sophomore right-hander Amber Matousek picked up her seventh win of the season, a career-high win total, in the circle. Matousek threw seven innings and fanned five batters on the afternoon, to bring her career total to 110.
The Blue and White, sporting green socks in honor of St. Patrick?s Day, opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning. Smith reached base on the first at-bat of the afternoon and advanced to second on a groundout by Meyer. Johnson?s single to right field placed runners on the corners. Freshman Sam DeMartine reached base on her first of three walks on the afternoon loading the bases for Yocke. The catcher split the infield and put a ball into right center field that scored Smith and Johnson putting the home team up 2-0.
Miami (Ohio) quickly responded with two runs in the top of the second to even the score. The Redhawk offense got two runs on four hits in the inning.
Kentucky wasted little time regaining the lead, as Johnson got her team leading 18th RBI of the season with a single up the middle that scored freshman Meagan Aull. Miami (Ohio) would score their final run in the top of the third to once again tie the score, 3-3, setting the stage for Mordecai.
DeMartine reached on a called base on balls. An error by the Redhawk?s right fielder put freshman Annie Rowlands on first and DeMartine advanced to third. With runners on the corners, Mordecai found a gap in right-center for a double bringing both runs around to score. Dimkich plated Mordecai from second on the next at-bat when she singled to right field, giving UK a 7-3 lead they would not relinquish.
Kentucky is next in action Wednesday when they host Minnesota and Drake. UK will take on the Golden Gophers at 3 p.m., and follow that contest with a game against Drake at 6 p.m. Live stats and complete coverage of the games can be found at www.ukathletics.com.
