April 5, 2011
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky will take a break from Southeastern Conference action and travel to Austin Peay for a midweek doubleheader on Wednesday. First pitch in Clarksville, Tenn., is set for 6 p.m. ET. UK is currently on a season-best six-game winning streak following consecutive sweeps of Mississippi State and then-ranked No. 5 Florida.
Kentucky (25-7) earned its highest national ranking from both major polls this week. UK came in at No. 18 in both the National Fastpitch Coaches Association and the USA Softball poll.
Senior Meagan Aull was named the SEC’s Player of the Week following a career performance in a sweep of No. 5 Florida. Aull batted .500 on the weekend with four homers, including two in the same inning to complete the sweep. Prior to the weekend she had only connected with six homers in her career. She also was mentioned as a “Top Performer” by the NFCA in its weekly player of the week honors.
UK’s pitching staff has been terrific and well-balanced of late. All four of UK’s pitchers saw quality action in the Florida series. Junior Chanda Bell worked 8.0 total innings striking out 14. Junior Rachel Riley earned a win in relief in the second game of the series and has now totaled six victories over top-seven opponents in her career. Freshman Lauren Cumbess captured her first career SEC victory in the series sweep.
Austin Peay enters the matchup with Kentucky owning an 8-25 overall record on the season. The Govenors, however, had an impressive duel with SEC member Ole Miss back in early Feburary.
The Rebels needed eight innings to squeak by Austin Peay in a 4-3 game. Austin Peay trailed Ole Miss 1-0 heading into its final at bat, but junior Catie Cozart, who had a double earlier in the game, led off the seventh inning with a triple to straight away center field. She scored two outs later on a single to left field by freshman Caitlyn Anderson, tying the game 1-1 and forcing the extra stanza where Ole Miss would eventually prevail.
The Governors are led at the dish by Lauren de Castro’s .295 average and six doubles. Cozart claims a .274 average and a team-best five stolen bases. In the circle, Austin Peay is paced by Morgan Brewer’s 3.69 ERA and 49 strikeouts.
Complete coverage of the UK softball team can be found at UKathletics.com all season long.
