March 27, 2010
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Junior Samantha DeMartine smashed a two-run walk-off home run to help the Kentucky softball team upset No. 7 Georgia, 4-2, in the nightcap of a doubleheader Saturday at the UK Softball Complex. The walk-off home run is the first of the junior’s career and it marked the Wildcats’ first game-ending play of the season.
The win over the seventh-ranked Bulldogs is the third defeat of a top-10 ranked opponent this season for the Blue and White after upsetting then fifth-ranked teams Arizona State and Alabama.
Kentucky improves to 20-13 overall and 5-7 in the Southeastern Conference. Georgia falls to 23-6 and 4-4 in the SEC.
Sophomore Rachel Riley picks up her seventh win of the season in a tremendous performance in the circle. The right-hander went the distance and yielded just two runs on five hits against a team that has smacked over 50 home runs and bats above .300 on the season.
“I thought in both games today our pitchers had exceptional outings,” UK coach Rachel Lawson said. “Georgia is a great offensive team and both Rachel and Chanda (Bell) kept them in check. It really speaks to the growth those two have displayed in the last year.”
After a controversial conclusion to the sixth inning, the Wildcats sat down Georgia’s firepower down in order to give UK’s bats a chance.
Junior Meagan Aull led off the bottom of the seventh with a single through the right side to get the leadoff runner aboard. DeMartine wasted little time in ending the game, though, as she blasted the first pitch she saw over the left field wall. It marked the second home run of the series for UK’s first baseman and her third of the season.
“Offensively we did not get as many hits as we would like, but when we did hit the ball we hit it hard and capitalized on our chances,” Lawson said. “It was really exciting to see Sam have a career day at the plate today.”
Georgia plated two runs in the top of the second off of a two-run home run to take a 2-0 advantage early.
In the bottom of the third, senior Destinee Mordecai earned a two-out walk to place a runner on base. Senior Molly Johnson then delivered her 10th home run of the season over the left field wall to tie the score at two apiece.
Kentucky had an incredible chance to score in the top of the sixth. Johnson claimed her second single of the game with one out on the scoreboard. Junior Megan Yocke kept the rally going with a chopper that went over the third baseman’s glove to put two runners on base. With two outs, sophomore Brittany Cervantes hit a hopper into left field and Johnson was waved on from third. In a very close play at home plate the umpire ruled the Georgia catcher was able to place a tag on Johnson before she safely slid home keeping UK off the board and a tie score.
The two teams will square off in a rubber match Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. ET.
For the most up-to-date information on the UK softball team please visit UKathletics.com.
