Feb. 27, 2010
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Kentucky dropped a 3-0 game to Lipscomb which snapped a seven-game winning streak for the Wildcats on Saturday morning. The Bison’s ace Whitney Kiihnl tossed a complete game shutout and limited the high-octane UK offense to just two hits on the afternoon. Kiihnl was coming off a perfect game against Austin Peay on Friday afternoon.
Senior Molly Johnson and junior Meagan Aull each had a single for the Blue and White (10-3). Pitcher Rachel Riley takes the loss after allowing a pair of runs in the first inning. Chanda Bell fanned five batters in four innings of relief, but allowed a run in the top of the seventh.
Lipscomb struck for a pair of runs in the top half of the first to take the early edge at 2-0. The leadoff batter split the left side for a single and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. She rounded home on a double into left field for the first tally. The second runner came home after a single and then a groundout to first base for the early strike.
The Wildcats escaped a jam in the top of the second to avoid allowing the Bison to increase their lead. After an opening single up the middle and an erroneous throw on a fielder’s choice the Wildcats allowed a pair of opening base runners. A sacrifice bunt allowed the runners to shift into scoring position, but senior Molly Johnson came up with two spectacular plays to end the threat.
Kentucky’s defense stepped up big again in the top of the third frame. Lipscomb registered three consecutive singles after an opening fly out to centerfield. After the bases were loaded Riley came up with a critical strikeout to get the second out. She then forced a groundout right back to her glove and she calmly made the throw to first to end the inning unscathed.
UK put a pair of runners on base in the bottom of the fifth, but could not push a runner across the plate. Riley was struck with a pitch to put the first runner on base. A fielder’s choice earned the second out of the inning. Meagan Aull then shifted into scoring position with a swiped bag, and Destinee Mordecai earned a walk to place two runners on base. The inning would end on a strikeout leaving two runners aboard.
The Wildcats had their best chance in the bottom of the sixth after Natalie Smith reached base on a catcher’s interference. Johnson sliced the defense and lofted a well hit ball into right-center. Smith attempted to make the most of the hit and rounded all the way home. In a very close play at home Smith was ruled out by the home plate umpire. UK’s final out of the inning came on a fly out to centerfield keeping the Bison out in front 2-0.
Lipscomb added an additional run in the top of the seventh after back-to-back doubles allowed the Bison to add to their lead.
In a last ditch effort the Wildcats had another chance in the bottom of the frame. Aull singled into right-center with two outs on the scoreboard. Mordecai then earned her second walk of the game to place two runners on base. The final out of the inning came on a pop-up in foul territory.
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