March 5, 2010
MARIETTA, Ga. – Junior Meagan Aull’s sixth inning home run sealed a 4-1 victory for the Kentucky softball team over Jacksonville State to begin the Buzz Classic in Marietta, Ga. Aull also tapped home twice in the win as UK improves to 12-3 on the season.
Sophomore pitcher Chanda Bell picked up her seventh win of the year in the win as she tossed a complete game effort with eight strikeouts.
Kentucky had a prime opportunity in the top half of the first as senior Natalie Smith singled along the right field line to get a runner on base with two outs. Senior Molly Johnson then set a school record with her 47th career double to place two runners in scoring position. UK could not push across a run however, as the inning ended with a deep fly ball to centerfield.
Jacksonville State plated the first run in the bottom of the second with a solo home run over the left field wall for a 1-0 advantage.
UK took the lead with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth. Johnson led off with a single by bunting along the left field line. Aull’s sacrifice bunt turned into another runner on base as the pitcher tossed the ball into the dugout placing both runners in scoring position. Sophomore Brittany Cervantes delivered a no-out double into the right-center gap to bring in both runs and give the Wildcats a 2-1 lead.
Aull added to Kentucky’s lead with a leadoff solo home run in the sixth inning over the center-field wall. It marked her first home run of the season and the fourth of her career.
Kentucky posted another run in the top half of the seventh. Junior Annie Rowlands claimed a leadoff walk and then promptly stole second. Freshman Kara Dill’s sacrifice bunt shifted the runner but another errant throw to first by the Gamecock’s pitcher allowed Rowlands to come home and plate another run for a 4-1 edge.
Stay tuned to UKathletics.com for the most up-to-date information regarding the Kentucky softball team.
