April 11, 2010
| Coach Compton |
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky (25-16, 10-9 SEC) completed the series sweep with an 8-0 win in five innings over South Carolina on Sunday afternoon at the Kentucky Softball Complex.
Junior Laura Mendes provided the Gamecock offense, tallying the lone hit. Natalie Smith went 3-for-3 with two RBI to lead the Wildcats.
The Wildcats got on the board in the first on Samantha DeMartine’s two-RBI single to left, scoring Molly Johnson and Smith after they both reached base to start the contest against the Gamecocks’ Ashley Chastain (4-11). South Carolina’s defense stepped up to get the squad out of the inning. Sophomore shortstop Evan Childs mowed down a runner at the plate for the first out, while junior catcher P.J. Fulmer threw out pinch runner Jennifer Young when she tried to swipe third. A groundout ended the frame with no further damage to the Garnet and Black.
Kentucky posted two more in the second, with Destinee Mordecai getting a one-out homer to left. Smith doubled home Johnson to make it 4-0 for Big Blue after two. Three more runs crossed in the third for Kentucky. Meagan Aull led off the frame with a homer, while Annie Rowlands and Smith followed later with RBI hits. UK’s eighth run came in the fourth as Aull scored from second on a Gamecock error with two outs.
Chanda Bell (14-8) tossed a one-hit shutout, fanning 10. Chastain (4-11) took the loss, giving up three runs, two earned, on two hits and two walks in 1.1 innings. The Gamecocks lost their second game on television this year, as the contest was shown live nationally on ESPNU.
South Carolina heads to Spartanburg on Wednesday to face USC Upstate. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. EDT.
