March 27, 2010
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Kentucky softball team dropped a thrilling 4-2 contest to No. 7 Georgia on Saturday at the UK Softball Complex. Georgia plated two runs in the top of the seventh to overcome a feisty Kentucky effort to take down a top-10 ranked opponent.
Kentucky falls to 19-13 and 4-7 in the Southeastern Conference. Georgia improves to 23-5 and 4-3 in the SEC.
Junior Samantha DeMartine led the offensive effort in UK’s upset bid with a 2-for-3 day which included a home run. Senior Molly Johnson was 2-for-4 on the day and classmate Natalie Smith went 2-for-3 at the dish.
Sophomore right-hander Chanda Bell struck out 11 of Georgia’s high-octane offensive players in a losing effort.
DeMartine’s one-out home run over the left field fence brought the Wildcats to within 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth. It marked the second home run of the season for the first baseman.
Kentucky kept the rally going when freshman Alice O’Brien singled to third base. Johnson then split the left side to place two runners aboard. Smith struck for a bunt and the catcher tossed the ball into right field enabling O’Brien to round home from second to tie the score at two.
Georgia plated two runs in the top of the seventh to make the final 4-2 score. The Bulldogs scored their first run when the bases were loaded and the batter was plucked with a pitch. The second run came in a on a single to third base for a two run edge.
UK fell in order in the bottom of the seventh in its last-ditch comeback effort.The Wildcats put a runner on base in the bottom half of the first when Megan Yocke earned a walk. The catcher then moved to second with a stolen base and an errant throw by the catcher into right field allowed her to shift all the way to third with two outs. The inning ended on a full-count strikeout leaving one runner on base.
Georgia struck first with a run in the top of the first. The Bulldogs earned a leadoff double and the runner would shift to third on a sacrifice. Georgia tapped home during a passed ball by Yocke to make the score 1-0.
Kentucky had another opportunity in the bottom of the third. DeMartine led off the inning with a single that sliced into left field. Annie Rowlands reached base on a fielder’s choice and then Johnson and Smith each registered a base hit to load the bags. The inning ended on a bizarre double play when Yocke attempted bring in a run with a sacrifice fly. The ball did not go deep enough and Rowlands attempted to get home. A nice throw by the Georgia left fielder reached home plate just in time for the catcher to apply the tag and prevent UK from scoring.
Georgia struck for another run in the top of the fifth. A walk, single and another walk loaded the bases for the Bulldogs to convert a sacrifice fly and make the score 2-0.
For the most up-to-date information on the UK softball team please visit UKathletics.com.
