LEXINGTON, Ky. ? Despite a four-hit performance from sophomore Molly Johnson, the Kentucky softball team dropped both games of a doubleheader to Georgia Saturday at the UK Softball Complex. The Bulldogs took game one by the score of 10-0, and then the nightcap with a 7-3 margin.
Kentucky?s sophomore went 4-for-5 on the day with two doubles and a walk. In the first game of the doubleheader, she made her 100th consecutive start.
The seventh inning of game two opened in a three-all tie, but the visitors scored four runs in the top half of the final inning to take their second game of the day. Georgia scored on three hits, including a two-run home run to edge the Wildcats with a 7-3 score in the nightcap.
UK made things interesting loading the bases in the top half of the seventh. Freshmen Sam DeMartine and Annie Rowlands and senior Audrey Meyer all reached on a called base on balls. But, Kentucky?s offense stalled with three consecutive fly outs to end the game.
In the nightcap, Kentucky struck first getting two runs in the bottom half of the first. After opening the game keeping the hot-hitting Bulldogs off of the scoreboard Kentucky scored its runs on two hits in the first.
Meyer once again got things going early for the Blue and White as she singled up the middle to lead off the game for the Wildcats. Freshman Megan Yocke laid down a sacrifice bunt along the first base line to advance the runner. Sophomore Natalie Smith then drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Johnson followed a two-run double that plucked the right-center wall to give UK an early 2-0 advantage.
After both teams went scoreless over the next two innings, the Bulldogs scratched the scoreboard with two scores in the top of the fourth to knot the score at two runs a piece. Georgia opened with a single into left field and then a double plated the first run. The visitors? second score came on a sacrifice fly to right field.
Kentucky wasted little time striking back getting a run in the home half of the fourth. Johnson led off with her second double of the game that banked off the center field wall. Freshman Meagan Aull advanced the runner with a sacrifice bunt along the third base line, and senior Ashley Dimkich brought in the run with a single into right-center field giving UK back the lead at 3-2.
Georgia evened the score at three with a run in the top of the sixth. The Bulldogs scored their run on two hits and a Wildcat error in the inning.
Johnson opened the home half of the six reaching base for the fifth time in the series by drawing a walk. Aull popped up to the third in an attempt to lay down a bunt and advance the runner. Johnson then swiftly swiped her 17th base of the season getting in prime scoring position, but the inning ended on consecutive Kentucky strikeouts.
In game one of the doubleheader, Johnson led the way offensively with a pair of singles reaching left field. Meyer and Yocke tallied the other hits for the Wildcats, despite UK being unable to push across any scores in the game.
Both teams began the first inning with a runner reaching base thanks to a walk. Georgia?s Taylor Schlopy drew a walk and became the first base runner of the game. As the speedy Schlopy took off for second, Yocke gunned her down at second for the first time this season. Previously, Schlopy was a perfect 22-for-22 on stolen base attempts until Kentucky?s freshman caught her in the base paths.
Meyer opened the game offensively reaching base for the Blue and White as she drew a walk, but Kentucky could not manufacture a run even after Johnson?s first single of the game stranding both runners in the first.
Georgia broke open the game with four runs in the top half of the third, and six additional scores in the top of the fourth. The Bulldogs generated their offense on 12 hits on the afternoon including five going for extra bases.
The two teams will wrap up their three-game set with a single game tomorrow beginning at 1 p.m. Live results and a complete recap of the game will be available at www.ukathletics.com.
Prior to the start of tomorrow?s final game at the UK Softball Complex in the 2008 season, UK?s five seniors will be honored. Seniors Samantha Allen, Lindsay Brogdon, Ashley Dimkich, Megan Jolly and Audrey Meyer will take to the field for a final time in front of their home crowd.
