Lack of offense costs UK in 2-0 loss to in-state rival

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By Bill Nigut

Although the UK softball team has knocked off every other opponent in the state of Kentucky this season, they could never quite overcome the No. 18 Louisville Cardinals.

The Cats (29-19, 11-13 Southeastern Conference), led by USA Softball National Player of the Week Molly Johnson, travelled across the Bluegrass to Louisville on Tuesday, seeking revenge for their March 31 home loss to the Cardinals.

Despite holding the Cardinals scoreless for the majority of the game, UK never created any offensive spark and failed to contain the Cards’ bats for all seven innings.

Freshman Rachel Riley was named SEC Freshman of the Week on April 27. Photo by Britney McIntosh | Staff

In a 2-0 loss, UK was shutout by All-Big East pitcher Kristen Wadwell, who boasts one of the best records in the nation (38-7) and a 1.39 ERA. In the game earlier this season, the Cats struggled with Wadwell’s pitching and only managed five hits and one run.

This time around, Wadwell allowed only four hits, but SEC Freshman of the Week Rachel Riley stayed right behind her, allowing just six. A pitching showdown between the Cardinals’ established veteran and UK’s freshman talent lasted through the first five and a half innings, during which both squads combined for six hits and neither team managed a run.

However, in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Cards’ bats started producing. Riley gave up three hits and a home run that ended any hopes of a shutout, and the Cats headed in to their final half-inning down 2-0.
Riley responded with a single to start off, but a double play quickly ended any momentum the Cats had going. UK’s 2-0 loss was finalized with a pop-fly in the next at-bat.

Though the Cards beat up on the Cats for the second time this year, they did not affect UK’s chances at making an appearance in the SEC Tournament. The tournament, which invites the top eight teams in the conference, only looks at a teams’ records in SEC play.  The Cats currently stand at sixth and will head to Columbia, S.C., this weekend to take on South Carolina in their final series of the season.