Published: March 14, 2008 01:13 pm         

After 12-0 season start, MSU softball falls in doubleheader at Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Morehead State softball team allowed only a total of four earned runs in its doubleheader at University of Kentucky Wednesday but the Eagles committed five errors, and the Wildcats took advantage in both games to hand MSU its first two losses of the 2008 campaign. UK won 5-3 in the first game and took the evening matchup 7-1. The Eagles are 12-2 heading into a doubleheader Thursday at home against Bellarmine at 2 p.m.

Freshman Rebecca Butler had a solid day for the Eagles despite not getting the results they would have wished for. She combined to go 4-for-7 at the plate in the twinbill and is now hitting a team best .442 in her first collegiate season. Seniors Brandy Bucher and Allie Honkofsky also collected two hits in the first game as MSU rapped out eight hits off UK pitcher Amber Matousek.

But, Matousek also got into a groove of her own and struck out 10 Eagle batters to improve her record to 5-4. She did not allow an earned run either. Eagle starter Alex Gjevre took the loss - her first of the 2008 season - to fall to 6-1. She allowed eight hits and walked just one in 4.1 innings of work. Only one of her runs allowed was earned, however. Sophomore Sarah Funston came on in relief and allowed the other two Wildcat runs in the final two innings. UK got a two-run double by lead-off hitter Megan Yocke in the sixth inning for the game-winning runs.

Kentucky scored a run in the first and second innings to claim a 2-0 lead. The Eagles answered with a pair of scores in the fourth. With the bases loaded, sophomore Ashley Archer's fielder's choice plated pinch runner Heather Widner. Honkofsky later scored on a wild pitch to make it a 2-2 contest.

In the sixth, Funston was just one out away from getting out of a jam, but Yocke smashed a two-out double to center field on a 1-1 pitch. 

In the nightcap, Eagle starter Kari Quinn gave up only one earned run, but UK took advantage of three Eagle errors and scored seven unanswered runs after the Eagles had taken a 1-0 lead in the first frame. Despite the loss, Quinn has now allowed just one earned run in 29 innings of work this season. She also picked up four strikeouts.

Kentucky starter Jennifer Young collected the victory as she didn't allow a run after the first and only surrendered four hits to MSU. The Eagles scored in the first when Butler reached home on a throwing error by Young as the Eagles were trying to execute a double steal. UK scored four unearned runs in the second and added three more scores in the fourth.

Butler went 2-for-3 to top the Eagles' offense.

MSU hosted a twinbill with Bellarmine University on Thursday.