CELINA, Texas— No. 15 Kentucky scored three early runs the added another run late in the game to defeat McNeese 4-0 here Friday on the first day of the Tracy Beard College Classic.
 
Kentucky (3-1-1) scored a single run in the first and two more in the second inning aided by a Cowgirl error to take an early 3-0 lead.  Cowgirl starter Ashley Vallejo (0-2) kept the Wildcats off the board for the next three innings until reliever Ryann Schexnayder gave up a sacrifice fly that allowed the fourth Wildcat to cross the plate.  Schexnayder got out of the inning by getting Kayla Kowalik to ground out for the third out.
 
McNeese (4-2) stranded five baserunners with three in scoring position.  The Cowgirls had an opportunity to score in the first inning when Chloe Gomez singled up the middle with one out then stole second but was stranded following a Crislyne Moreno pop out to the pitcher.
 
The Cowgirls missed another opportunity to put runs on the board in the sixth inning when Erin Ardoin reached base on a Wildcat error.  A single by Alayis Seneca put runners on first and second then a Gomez sac bunt moved Ardoin and Seneca up one base to second and third with one out.  Emily Phillips popped out to first base for the second out before Crislyne Moreno went down swinging for the third out.  
 
Both Gomez and Seneca picked up the only Cowgirl hits in the game while Vallejo took the loss, giving up four earned runs on eight hits with three walks while striking out four. Wildcat starter Stephanie Schoonover improved to 2-0 on the season with the complete game victory.  Schoonover struck out 11 batters and didn't allow a walk in the game.
 
McNeese will face South Dakota at 1:30 p.m. and UT-Arlington at 4 p.m. Saturday before closing out tournament play with a 12:30 p.m. game against North Texas on Sunday.
 
SCORING
B1- Kentucky took a 1-0 lead behind two hits and a wild pitch (UK 1, McN 0)
B2- Kentucky took advantage of a two out Cowgirl error to score two runs for a 3-0 lead. (UK 3, McN).
B6- Kentucky added another run on a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded. (UK 4, McNeese 0)
 
NOTES
T1- McNeese left Chloe Gomez stranded at second after Gomez singled and stole second to move into scoring position.
T4: McNeese left Gomez stranded again after she reaches on a Kentucky error.
T6: Ardoin reached on a Kentucky error to lead the inning off then Alayis Seneca reaches on a single to short. Both players advance on a sac bunt by Gomez but were left stranded following an Emily Phillips pop out to first base and a Crislyne Moreno strikeout to end the top half of the inning.
B6: McNeese held Kentucky to just one run in the inning with one out and the bases loaded.  Cowgirl reliever Ryann Schexnayder entered the game with two on and one out. Schexnayder gave up a single to the first batter she faced then got a sacrifice fly and a ground out to get out of the inning.