Feb. 23, 2007
Final Stats
DAVIS, Calif. - The Kentucky Wildcats scored two runs in the seventh inning to fend off the UC Davis softball team, 5-3, on opening day of the Aggie Invitational at LaRue field in Davis, Calif.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 4-2 overall this season while the Aggies fall to 5-3.
Aggie center fielder Trish Paine went 3-for-4 with a run scored and a double while catcher Deanna Menapace drove in two runs. Nikki Sheldon - who is currently hitting a team-high .529 - went 1-for-3. Michelle Espiritu and Julie Stauder accounted for UC Davis' two other hits.
Pitcher Lauren Pieretti (0-1), who relieved starter Lindsay Tognetti at the start of the fifth inning, took the loss for the Aggies. Kentucky reliever Jennifer Young, who also came into the game in the fifth inning, improved to 3-2 with the win. Young scattered four hits and didn't allow any runs in three innings of work.
Kentucky took an early 2-0 lead after a two-run home run by shortstop Brooke Marnitz that scored leadoff hitter Audrey Meyer, who had singled to start the game.
The Aggies got on the board in the bottom of the fourth after loading the bases with a single each by Stauder and Ashley Johnson. Kentucky starter Megan Jolly then hit Sheldon with a pitch to load the bases. Stauder later scored on a wild pitch by Jolly to make it 2-1.
A base-clearing double by Menapace in the bottom of the fifth scored Paine and Stauder to give the Aggies their first lead of the game, 3-2.
Kentucky got the run back in the top of the sixth, tying the game, 3-3, on a two-out solo home run by Becky Bishop. In the seventh, the Wildcats broke the tie with a two-out two RBI single by Molly Johnson that scored Natalie Smith and Marnitz.
After giving up a leadoff walk to Menapace and a one-out single to Sheldon in the bottom of the seventh, Young retired the final two batters to secure the victory.
The Aggies return to tournament action tomorrow against St. Mary's at 3 p.m.
UK - 200 001 2 - 5 8 2
UCD - 000 120 0 - 3 8 0
Win: Young (3-2); Loss: Pieretti (0-1)
2B: Paine, Menapace
HR: Marnitz, Bishop
RBI: Marnitz (2), Bishop, Johnson (2); Menapace (2)
