Keystone graduate Kara Dill is leading Kentucky in batting average with a .386 mark and has extended her career-long hitting streak to 11 games, which is the longest hitting streak on the team this season.

Primarily a slap hitter, Dill used her speed against the Colonels to beat out a throw for an infield single while adding a double. She also stole two bases on the evening to give her a team-high 17 stolen bases.

Dill hit .238 in 126 at-bats her freshman season as an infield utility player. The difference this year is she’s making contact at a higher rate and forcing more walks, the perfect recipe for a team that has a lot of big bats around her with the capability of batting her in (UK is four home runs away from breaking the 2007 school record).

“She’s the perfect yin to the rest of the team’s yang,” senior captain Megan Yocke said.

Through a dual-credit program at Keystone, Dill took college courses at Lorain County Community College and earned her associate’s degree upon graduation her senior year. Had it not been for some credits that didn’t transfer to Kentucky, she would actually be graduating college with a bachelor’s degree this spring.

Dill, of course, isn’t going anywhere over the next two years. While she pursues a master’s degree to become a strength and conditioning coach, she’ll complete her two years of athletic eligibility as a key cog in the softball program.

swalker@MorningJournal.com