March 17, 2011
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Following a pair of midweek victories at Arkansas on Wednesday, the 21st-ranked Kentucky Wildcats will remain on the road for a three-game series at No. 25 LSU March 18-20. The Wildcats are seeking to improve upon its 18-4 and 4-1 start to Southeastern Conference action. Friday night’s game with LSU is set for a 7 p.m. ET first pitch.
Kentucky had a five-run 11th inning charge to complete another comeback effort in a 7-2 win at Arkansas in the second game of a doubleheader. Reigning National Player of the Week Megan Yocke began the charge with a solo homer and junior Rachel Riley completed the effort with a three-run bomb to aide her own cause. Riley picked up the win in the circle tossing a complete-game effort.
In the opening game of the series, junior Brittany Cervantes charted her team-best seventh long ball of the season to pace a four-run sixth frame in a 4-0 victory. Junior pitcher Chanda Bell earned her fifth shutout of the season and tossed 14 strikeouts in the victory. It marked the 28th time in her career she has charted 10 or more strikeouts in a game.
The 25th-ranked Tigers are in the midst of a six game losing streak, including five straight to league foes. LSU had to endure a tough start to SEC play, facing top-ranked Georgia and No. 2 Florida to begin the year. LSU dropped a 7-0 decision at Southern Miss on Wednesday and will be seeking to return to its winning ways.
The Tigers are led at the dish by Simone Heyward’s .339 clip and Anissa Young’s six homers. LSU owns a .262 team batting average and have driven in 102 RBI while scoring 115 times as a unit.
In the circle, the Tigers utilize three pitchers with sophomore Rachel Fico making a team-high 14 appearances. LSU’s staff has earned a 3.20 ERA, with Meghan Patterson holding a team-best 2.61 ERA and a team-best 82 strikeouts.
LSU swept the regular season series between the two squads in 2010. The Tigers also captured a walk-off victory over the Blue and White in the opening round of the SEC Tournament.
LSU owns and all-time record of 30-2 over the Wildcats. UK’s last victory, however, came in Baton Rouge, La., in 2009.
Complete coverage of the UK softball team can be found at UKathletics.com all season long.
