| Gameday Information | |
|---|---|
| Game Notes |
Kentucky Game Notes  | Mississippi State Game Notes |
| Location | UK Softball Complex Lexington, Ky. |
| Friday, March 25, 6 p.m. ET | |
|---|---|
| Coverage |
Free Video   |
| Promotions | • FREE admission with ticket stub from UK vs. Canisius Baseball game |
| Saturday, March 26, 1 p.m. ET | |
|---|---|
| Coverage |
Free Video |
| Promotions | • Camper Reunion Day – FREE admission for 2010 UK Softball campers • FREE UK Softball knee socks for the first 50 kids, 8th grade and under • FREE admission with ticket stub from UK vs. Canisius Baseball game • Kids can arrive early to play on the inflatable games (weather permitting) • The entire team will sign autographs after the game |
| Sunday, March 27, 1 p.m. ET | |
|---|---|
| Coverage |
Free Video |
| Promotions | • FREE UK Softball trading cards for the first 50 UK fans • FREE admission with ticket stub from UK vs. Canisius Baseball game • Kids can arrive early to play on the inflatable games (weather permitting) • The entire team will sign autographs after the game |
| 2011 Team Stats | UK | MSU |
|---|---|---|
| Batting Average | .285 | .282 |
| Slugging Pct. | .440 | .458 |
| Runs Scored | 126 | 132 |
| ERA | 1.92 | 4.91 |
| Strikeouts Thrown | 208 | 144 |
| Fielding Pct. | .976 | .948 |
| 2011 Stat Leaders | |
|---|---|
| Batting Average | UK: Aull (.400) MSU: Bainbridge (.376) |
| RBI | UK: Cervantes (26) MSU: Besbit (26) |
| On Base Pct. | UK: Yocke (.495) MSU: Bainbridge (.495) |
| ERA | UK: Riley (1.74) MSU: Vry (3.27) |
| Strikeouts Thrown | UK: Bell (114) MSU: Vry (69) |
March 24, 2011
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The No. 23/24 Kentucky softball team returns home to the UK Softball Complex for its third SEC three-game series of the season and second to take place at home. Kentucky and Mississippi State will square off March 25-27 beginning with a 6 p.m. ET first pitch Friday night.
Kentucky (19-7, 5-3) is looking to snap a three-game skid, the longest such slide this season. The Blue and White played exceptionally well the last time they were in front of their home crowd as UK knocked off then ranked No. 7 Tennessee in a series for the first time since 2000. The Wildcats used late-inning heroics in a 10-inning victory over the Lady Vols for the series clincher.
UK has captured the series with Mississippi State in each of the last two seasons. In 2009, Brittany Cervantes hit a walk-off grand slam to sweep the Bulldogs. A season ago, UK Rachel Riley’s near flawless pitching effort enabled UK to escape with a 2-0 win in the second game of the series for the deciding clincher. Annie Rowlands hit a home run to lead the bats in the opening game of the series.
The story of late for the Wildcats has been the tremendous plate presence by senior Meagan Aull. The lefty has charted a hit in 10 consecutive games and 18 of UK’s last 19 outings. She also has 10 multiple-hit performances in that stretch. She is the lone Wildcat to have a hit in every SEC contest this season.
Mississippi State owns a 15-14 overall record and a 5-2 clip in Southeastern Conference action. The Bulldogs are coming off of a series sweep with Arkansas. Mississippi State also swept a doubleheader with South Carolina to begin conference play. The only two losses in league action have come at the hands of Florida.
Ali Bainbridge leads the offensive output with a .376 batting average. Courtney Nesbit is batting .341 with a team-high seven home runs and 26 RBI. As a unit, Mississippi State is batting at a .282 clip with 25 homers and 15 stolen bases.
Kylie Vry paces the pitching staff with a 3.27 ERA on a team-high 24 appearances. She has struck out 69 batters and limits opposing batters to a .256 average.
Mississippi State leads the all-time series with a 24-13 record, however the Wildcats have captured the series from the Bulldogs in each of the last two seasons. UK is 5-1 against the Bulldogs in the last two years. Promotions for the Mississippi State series:
Complete coverage of the UK softball team can be found at UKathletics.com all season long.
