By Les Johns

The UK softball team scored a decisive 8-0 victory in game two of the Super Regional Sunday afternoon, but could not continue its momentum in the decisive third game, losing 9-0.

Nearly everyone contributed in game two, as eight of the Cats’ nine starters hammered out a hit.  Senior centerfielder Meagan Aull knocked in three runs and junior Rachel Riley pitched five innings scattering three hits in the Cats’ win.

The Cats won by virtue of the eight-run mercy rule as they were up 8-0 after five innings.

The Cats’ bats were silenced in the third game of the Super Regional, however.  California’s sophomore pitcher Jolene Henderson returned to her dominant game-one form, holding UK to just three hits over seven innings in the final game.

Cal broke the game open in the top of the first inning with a five-run outburst.  Cal added some runs in the sixth and seventh innings, to bring the final tally to 9-0.

With the series victory, Cal moves on to the College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla., June 2-8.

The loss ended the season for UK, which finishes the season with a 40-15 record.  UK head coach Rachel Lawson got choked up while talking about the departing seniors.

“Nobody thought they could win,” Lawson said.  “I wanted them to go to the World Series.”

As they look forward to next season, Lawson said: “The future is very bright for us.”

“This is the expectation now,” added senior catcher Megan Yocke.