LEXINGTON, Ky. ? Kentucky freshman Samantha DeMartine tallied a three-run home run in the second game of a doubleheader, but the Wildcats dropped both games against second-ranked Alabama Saturday at the UK Softball Complex. The Crimson Tide earned 11-2, and 14-4 wins in today?s games.
DeMartine?s three-run shot over the left-center field wall was the biggest highlight of the day for the Blue and White. Sophomore Natalie Smith tallied a single in both contests today, the lone UK batter to record a hit in all three games against the Crimson Tide. Kentucky (13-13, 1-5) accounted for eight total hits on the day as Alabama (27-3, 9-2) used a dominant offense and quality pitching to take the series over the Wildcats.
Alabama opened the first game of the day with a five run first inning to jump out in front. The Crimson Tide would go on to add four runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth inning to tally 11 unanswered runs.
The Wildcats once again made things interesting in the final frame when they tallied their two scores. Much like the first game of the series, the UK bats came alive with their backs against the wall. Sophomore Destinee Mordecai opened the inning with a walk to put a runner on base. Freshman Annie Rowlands followed suit with a walk of her own, and then senior Ashley Dimkich loaded the bases when she was nailed by a pitch on the arm. Freshman Meagan Aull scored Mordecai with a single that split the left side of the infield. Rowlands came around to score on a walk by senior Audrey Meyer. The inning ended with three base runners still aboard.
In the nightcap, Bama once again got off to a fast start with eight runs in the first three innings. Kentucky got on the board in the bottom half of the third frame. Meyer singled to extend her hot streak at the plate; she has now registered a hit in six of the last seven games. Sophomore Molly Johnson reached on a fielder?s choice and swiftly moved to second on a wild pitch. Freshman Megan Yocke earned an RBI with a single through the left side.
Kentucky got three more on the scoreboard on DeMartine?s blast in the fifth. Meyer reached first to open the inning off of a wild pitch on a third strike. Johnson?s single to center field put runners on first and second setting the stage for the freshman designated player. DeMartine lofted a ball over the left center field wall, the second of her career, bringing the score to 11-4.
Alabama added three runs in the top of the sixth to pull away from the Blue and White earning a series sweep.
Kentucky returns to action on Wednesday for a non-conference mid-week game with in-state rival Louisville. The Wildcats will travel west on I-75 to complete the home-and-home season series with the Cardinals. First pitch Wednesday is slated for 5 p.m. Complete coverage of the UK softball team can be found at www.ukathletics.com.
