March 31, 2012
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – No. 9/10 Tennessee evened the series with an 8-0 victory over Kentucky on Saturday afternoon that featured a three-hour weather delay in between the third and fourth innings. Sophomore Lauren Cumbess led the Wildcats with a two-hit performance in the loss.
With the win, the Lady Vols improve to 26-8 and 8-5 in Southeastern Conference action. Kentucky falls to 16-18 and 3-5 in league play.
For the second consecutive season the series will be decided in the final game of the series on Sunday. First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m. ET. A season ago the Wildcats earned the opening win before Tennessee fired back with a win on Saturday.
Senior Brittany Cervantes logged the first hit of the game with a blooper over the first baseman’s head with one out in the first. She’d move to second on a routine grounder back to third. Freshman Griffin Joiner then sliced a single through the left side and the Wildcats attempted to strike first as Cervantes headed home for the game’s first score, but a terrific throw from left field got the runner at the plate preventing the score.
Tennessee plated three scores in the home half of the first to take a quick 3-0 lead. The Lady Vols utilized three hits and a wild pitch to bring in their scores.
Cumbess snuck a double just inside of the left field line with two outs in the top of the second. Kentucky would leave her aboard, however, as the inning concluded with a fly-out to center.
Tennessee added five more runs in the bottom of the second to increase its lead to 8-0. The Lady Vols benefited from three hits including a two-run double as well as one Wildcat error.
UK dropped in order in the top of the third. Tennessee made three spectacular defensive plays to prevent the Blue and White from reaching the base paths. Cumbess entered to pitch in the home half of the frame and returned the favor to the Lady Vols as she picked up three quick outs.
Following the three-hour weather delay sophomore Ginny Carroll singled with two outs in the top of the fourth, but Kentucky’s offense stalled again leaving the runner aboard.
Cumbess worked around a pair of singles in the home half of the inning, but did not allow any further damage. The sophomore then opened the top of the fifth with a single into right-center to attempt to jump-start the Wildcat offense. UK suffered three consecutive outs, however, with her still standing at first.
For continuing coverage of the 2012 UK softball season, log on to UKathletics.com.
