March 16, 2012
Box Score | Photo Gallery vs. UAB 
| Photo Gallery vs. NC State
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The University of Kentucky softball team (10-14) fell to North Carolina State and the University of Alabama-Birmingham on Friday in the opening day of the 2012 UK Softball Invitational. In both games, the UK offense jumped out to quick starts, but couldn’t hold the lead in the final innings to secure the wins. NC State earned a 6-3 decision and UAB posted a 6-5 win in 10 innings of action.
In the opening game of the day for the Wildcats, UK jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the fourth inning on a three-run home run by sophomore Ginny Carroll to deep left field scoring Kara Howard and Lauren Cumbesson the play. UK would hold that lead behind solid pitching from Cumbess who worked six innings allowing six hits and two runs while striking out five batters.
NC State scored all six of its runs in the top of the seventh inning. The Wildcats recorded two errors in the frame prolonging the inning for the Wolfpack. NC State tallied five of its nine hits in the game in the final stanza. Wolfpack pitcher Emily Weiman picked up her eighth win on the season to improve to 8-9 on the season. Weiman went the distance allowing three runs on eight hits.
In the second game Kentucky fell in 10 innings to UAB. The Blazers overcame a five-run deficit to beat the Wildcats in extra frames 6-5.
UK jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in the opening stanza. Senior Rachel Riley singled through the left side and freshman Griffin Joinerfound a hole in left field. The runners would round home when Carroll skied a ball to deep left field that the Blazer’s mishandled allowing two runs to score.
Kentucky then plated three more runs in the home half of the second to stretch the lead to 5-0. Sophomore Aubrey Lamar laced a one-out single through the left side. Following the second out of the inning, junior Kara Dillearned an infield single. Cumbess delivered a two-run double into left-center to plate both runs and lift the home team to the 5-0 advantage.
UAB began a comeback effort with two runs in both the third and fourth innings. The Blazers forced extra frames with a tally in the visitor’s side of the seventh and overcame the deficit for the victory with a solo homer in the top of the 10th.
In the other two games, UMKC dropped both decisions to both UAB and NC State. NC State and UAB are both undefeated and will play for the top seed tomorrow morning at 11:00 a.m. ET. UK will take on UKMC at 1:00 p.m. ET.
For continuing coverage of the UK Softball Invitational and the 2012 UK softball season log on to UKathletics.com.
Live stats for the entire tournament will be available at UKathletics.com. UK’s homepage will also offer live video streaming of games involving Kentucky.
Complete 2012 UK Invitational Schedule
Saturday, March 17
NC State vs. UAB – 11 a.m.
UMKC vs. Kentucky – 1 p.m.
(Game One) Seed 1 vs. Seed 4 – 3 p.m.
(Game Two) Seed 2 vs. Seed 3 – 5 p.m.
Sunday, March 18 Loser Game One vs. Loser Game Two – 11 a.m.
Winner Game One vs. Winner Game Two – 1 p.m.
