April 17, 2009
LEXINGTON, Ky. –
After facing five ranked teams in their last six series, the Kentucky softball team will enjoy a break from conference action with a Sunday twin bill when they host UT-Chattanooga at the UK Softball Complex.
Kentucky and the Lady Mocs will begin the first game at 1 p.m. ET with the second contest to follow approximately 20 minutes following the conclusion of the first. Live stats will be available at UKathletics.com.
UK has endured the toughest portion of its schedule as it heads into the final 10-game stretch of the season. The Wildcats boast a 25-18 record overall and hold a top-15 RPI ranking in its quest for its first appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Chattanooga will enter Sunday’s games with a 23-19 record. The Lady Mocs are cruising in the Southern Conference with a 12-2 record and a first-place ranking. The Blue and White has enjoyed a steady offensive attack from a number of players.
Junior Molly Johnson paces the squad with a .409 batting average and seven home runs. Sophomores Meagan Aull and Megan Yocke have enjoyed break-out seasons. Aull holds a .315 average and leads the team with 10 doubles and 21 stolen bases. Yocke has served as one of UK’s best clutch-hitters this season. The California native has a .311 average and leads the team with 27 RBI. She also paces the Wildcats with nine sacrifice hits and two sac flies on the season.
Junior Natalie Smith has once again found her stride at the plate. In an upset bid over Tennessee last week Smith blasted her first career walk-off home run. Freshman Brittany Cervantes has also emerged as a big-time hitter once UK got into conference action. Cervantes has tallied six home runs and seven doubles while bringing in 26 RBI on the season.
In the circle a pair of freshman has been the biggest surprises for UK this season. Rachel Riley has been dominant as of late holding the No. 1 Florida Gators to just one hit and yielding just one earned run to No. 6 Alabama in her last two starts. Chanda Bell has broken a number of strikeout records in her first season. She totaled 15 in a game and has nearly 200 for the season—both UK records.
Chattanooga is an NCAA tournament member from a season-ago and are once again leading the Southern Conference. The Lady Mocs have an impressive .278 team batting average led by Tiffany Baker’s .370. Baker also leads the team with 10 home runs and 32 RBI. In the circle, Brooke Loudermilk has a 2.31 ERA with 72.2 innings pitched. Loudermilk has tossed 78 strikeouts on the season and picked up five wins on the year.
The lone similar opponent thus far in the season is Kent State. UK took both games from the Golden Flashes in Lexington, while UTC dropped a 4-3 game in early February in a tournament.
Stay tuned to UKathletics.com for the most up to date information about the Kentucky softball team.
Game Day Promotions
First 50 fans receive free UK Softball trading cards
Kids can enjoy inflatables set up between the soccer and softball fields
Face painting before the game
• Bluegrass Softball League Day
• UK Alumni Association Day
• Girl Scouts Day – Girl scouts can get in for free if they wear their uniform or Girl Scouts t-shirt.
• Little League Softball Day – Little League Softball players who wear their jersey (w/ Little League patch) get in for free.
