LEXINGTON, Ky. ? The University of Kentucky softball team returns home after a five-game road swing to host its final non-conference game of the season when it welcomes Eastern Kentucky to the UK Softball Complex, Wednesday. First pitch is set for a 5 p.m. start.
During non-conference play this season UK has amassed a 13-12 overall record, including a 5-3 mark at home. Sophomore Molly Johnson has led the way against non-divisional opponents batting at a .500 clip, including belting four home runs, 12 doubles and bringing in 28 scores. Sophomore right-hander Amber Matousek has also been stellar in the circle, striking out 67 batters while throwing 89.1 innings of work, earning a 2.98 earned run average against teams not comprising the SEC.
Kentucky freshman Meagan Aull has found her stride in the final weeks of the season as she paces the UK offense in league play with a .339 average. The first-year player from Kentucky has recorded a hit against every SEC opponent and has a hit in 11 of her last 15 outings. She leads the team with 20 hits, 24 runs batted in, and eight runs scored in league play. Aull has also been outstanding in the field playing centerfield for the first time in her career; she has recorded 76 putouts on the season with a fielding percentage of .929. Additionally, she is one of four players to start all 47 games this season for UK including Johnson, sophomore Natalie Smith and freshman Megan Yocke.
Yocke has also made a late-season charge. The catcher has been tremendous behind the plate picking off 17 base runners attempting to steal, while also recording a .964 fielding percentage, second-best on the team. The first-year player has come on at the plate as well; batting .289 with nine doubles and 18 runs batted in. She has crossed the plate 28 times this season, including matching a program-record four times against Indiana.
The last time the Wildcats were in action against a non-conference opponent they set a program record with a 16-0 victory over Ohio State, last Wednesday. The win equaled the largest win total in its 12-year history.
Eastern Kentucky comes to Lexington with an impressive 25-15 overall record, including a 14-7 mark in the Ohio Valley conference. The Colonels are led by Shyenne Hussey at the plate who is hitting at a .385 clip, and has six homers and 39 runs batted in. Stayce Toups has made 27 appearances in the circle for Eastern Kentucky totaling a 2.95 ERA and a 9-5 record.
Live stats of the action from the UK Softball complex will be available on www.ukathletics.com. In addition to wrapping up its non-conference slate, the game against Eastern Kentucky will be UK staff appreciation day at the ball park. Stay tuned to ukathletics.com for more information about the UK softball team.
