March 11, 2012
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The top ranked Alabama Crimson Tide used a pair of multiple-run innings to capture a 12-2 sweep of Kentucky in the final game of the opening Southeastern Conference weekend. The reigning SEC Freshman of the Week, Griffin Joiner, led the bats for the Wildcats with a 3-for-4 outing at the dish.
With the loss Kentucky falls to 10-11 on the season and 0-3 in league action. Alabama continues to remain undefeated with a perfect 21-0 and 3-0 mark in conference action.
Joiner batted .455 for the weekend in her first SEC action of her career. She had a team-high five hits and a homer in the series to pace the Wildcat attack.
Alabama struck for a run in the top of the second to capture a 1-0 advantage following a solo homer from Jackie Traina. The Tide plated an additional score in the visitor’s side of the third to stretch the lead to 2-0. A one-out walk was brought in to score following a stolen base and a single to the right side.
The Tide increased its lead to 6-0 with a four-run fourth inning. A two-run homer by Jennifer Fenton enabled the visitor’s to earn a comfortable advantage.
Kentucky responded with a pair of runs in the home half of the inning to bring the score to 6-2. Sophomore Ginny Carroll opened the inning by earning a walk. She’d promptly shift to second on a wild pitch by Traina. After a pair of pop-ups, junior Kara Dillsliced a double along the left field line to bring in Carroll from second.
The UK rally did not end there; however, as senior Brittany Cervantes logged a walk to place runners on first and second. An infield single from Joiner loaded the bases for the Wildcats. Senior Rachel Rileythen delivered an RBI single through the left side to plate the second run of the stanza.
Traina connected for her second solo homer of the game for a tally in the fifth. Alabama then struck for five runs in the sixth to make the final 12-2 margin.
Kentucky will return to action with a non-conference mid-week home game against Western Illinois. First pitch at the UK Softball Complex is slated for a 3 p.m. ET first pitch.
Follow along with the UK softball program all season long at UKathletics.com.
