April 7, 2010
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A five-run first inning was the difference as the 23rd-ranked Louisville Cardinals earned a 6-0 victory over the Kentucky Wildcats, Wednesday afternoon on a dreary day in Louisville. The multiple runs allowed was incredibly uncharacteristic of the Wildcats who had previously not allowed more than three tallies in the opening frame this year. It also marked the second highest number of runs allowed in a single stanza all season.
With the loss the Wildcats drop to 22-16 overall and the Cardinals improve to 25-12 on the year. The game completes the home-and-home series between the two in-state rivals this season.
Senior Natalie Smith poked a ball into shallow center field with an out in the top of the first inning to register the game’s first single. After a foul-out to third base, sophomore Brittany Cervantes drilled a line drive that skipped into center field to keep the inning alive with the second hit of the game. The inning ended with runners aboard as the Cardinals escaped with an inning-ending strikeout.
Louisville struck for five runs in the home half of the first inning to take an early advantage at 5-0. The Cardinals plated their scores on seven hits – including a pair of doubles. One run was unearned in the frame due to an error by the UK defense.
In the top of the third, senior Molly Johnson roped a double down the left field line with just an out in the inning placing a runner in scoring position for the Blue and White in the top of the third. Smith then drilled a deep fly ball into right field allowing Johnson to tag up and advance to third. The inning ended though with Johnson standing on third after a pop-up to third base.
The home squad added to its lead with an unearned run in the bottom of the fifth to make the score 6-0. Louisville charted a triple into right center. After an intentional walk of All-American Melissa Roth placed runners on the corners, Roth attempted to steal second and UK took a chance in trying to get the runner moving to second. The ball sailed into the outfield during the run down allowing the runner on third to tap home.
Kentucky returns to action for a three-game set with South Carolina this weekend. UK hosts the Gamecocks for two games on Saturday, April 10th beginning at 1 p.m. ET. Sunday, the teams will complete the series with a game beginning at 2:04 p.m. ET and airing on ESPNU.
For the most up-to-date information on the UK softball team please visit UKathletics.com.
