March 6, 2010
MARIETTA, Ga. – Behind a four-run third inning the 23rd ranked Kentucky softball team earned a 5-0 win over Western Carolina Saturday night on a brisk night at the Buzz Classic. The victory gives UK its 14th of the season.
Kentucky (14-5) had four different players register hits in the game, but it was UK’s stellar base running that propelled them to victory. The Blue and White swiped three bases in the decisive inning to capitalize on their offensive opportunities. Senior Natalie Smith had a triple, drove in a run and tapped home to lead the Wildcats, while freshman Alice O’Brien had two hits in her first two career at-bats.
Sophomore right-hander Rachel Riley earned her fourth win of the year in a complete game effort.
With two outs, Smith laced a triple into deep right field. The inning would end leaving her in scoring position as the Wildcats hit a zinger right to the second baseman.
UK had another opportunity in the second when Brittany Cervantes sent a well hit ball into right field, that the fielder mishandled and muffed allowing her to reach second. Kentucky had back-to-back fly outs leaving the runner aboard.
The Wildcats broke open the score with a four-run third inning. Molly Johnson and Megan Yocke both registered one-out walks to place runners on base. The tandem shifted into scoring position with a pair of stolen bases. Smith’s blooper back to the pitcher allowed the speedy Johnson to tap home. Meagan Aull drove in Yocke with a single through the right side. Aull would then shift to second with a swiped bag and a single by Cervantes plated the fourth run of the inning for a 4-0 advantage.
O’Brien earned her first career hit with a single through the right side in the fourth inning, but UK could not advance her past second and the score remained 4-0.
O’Brien and sophomore Macy Allen both had back-to-back two-out singles into centerfield to place two runners on base in the bottom half of the sixth. Johnson drove in O’Brien from second when she found a gap through the right side to make the final margin 5-0.
Kentucky will wrap up action at the Buzz Classic in an early morning matchup with Liberty. The two squads will face off at 9 a.m. ET.
Stay tuned to UKathletics.com for the most up-to-date information regarding the Kentucky softball team.
