Errors plague Kentucky Softball as Ole Miss wins series opener 7-6

No. 8 Kentucky Softball was unable to overcome a five-error night on Friday, falling 7-6 to Ole Miss in game one of a three-game set in Lexington.

The Cats (25-9, 6-4 Southeastern Conference) mounted just five hits against Rebel pitching inside John Cropp Stadium, leaving only one Wildcat on base.

Senior lefty Anna Borgen and freshman right-hander Catelyn Riley each tossed over three innings for the Rebels, holding UK scoreless in five frames. The loss stifles a three-game winning streak for Kentucky, as the Cats were fresh off of a sweep over No. 20 LSU in Baton Rouge.

Poor hitting troubles Kentucky

No Wildcat was able to record more than one hit on Friday afternoon. Star catcher Kayla Kowalik was held hitless, as she went 0-4 in the leadoff slot.

Kentucky managed to crank three home runs, as Erin Coffel, Lauren Johnson and Miranda Stoddard each left the yard. Coffel’s two-run blast in the fourth inning was her team-best 11th of the season.

The Cats were held scoreless in the first three innings, failing to record a hit. They would explode in the fourth, notching four runs, including Coffel and Johnson’s two-run homers to give UK a 4-1 lead.

Ole Miss (29-9, 5-5 SEC) would allow just one hit the rest of the game.

Defense falters late, Rebels pile on

Ole Miss would quickly wipe away the three-run deficit, claiming four hits of its own in the top of the fifth.

Third baseman Paige Smith kicked off the rally with a double, eventually scoring via a Riley single. Sydney Gutierrez roped a double of her own in the inning, all of which came off of Tatum Spangler. She pitched just 1.2 innings, allowing four hits and a walk.

With the game tied at four in the sixth, the Rebels tacked on three more runs.

The error bug bit UK early in the inning, as Stoddard, now at third base, let Tate Whitley reach first on a grounder. Following a walk and a popout, Wildcat pitcher Sloan Gayan hurled a wild pitch that allowed runners to advance 90 feet.

A fielder’s choice would bring in a run before an error by Coffel at shortstop allowed a second to cross home plate. Before the Cats could get out of the jam, a groundout would score a third run, putting UK in a hole with just six outs to work with.

Seventh inning rally falls short

After a 1-2-3 sixth inning, the Cats entered the bottom of the seventh still down three.

Stoddard would immediately cut the deficit to two, slapping an 0-2 pitch over the wall in left center, giving Kentucky life. Kennedy Sullivan would go up to bat next and walk on five pitches.

After a wild pitch and a groundout, UK had a runner on third with one out. Spangler would ground out, getting the runner home to put the Cats within a point and with just one out remaining.

Kentucky got the right player to the plate, as Kowalik stepped into the box looking to play hero. However, on a 1-2 pitch, the catcher would ground out to short, stymying the comeback bid.

The Wildcats will return to the Cropp for game two of the series against the Rebels on Saturday, as UK looks to even the series and halt Ole Miss’ now three-game winning streak. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. EST on the SEC Network.