Kentucky Softball Avoids Sweep, Takes Down No. 12 Arkansas 3-1

Kentucky softball earned a much-needed dub on Sunday.

It was the final day of play at John Cropp Stadium in an SEC series between the No. 20 Wildcats (27-15-1; 8-10 SEC) and No. 12 Arkansas (34-13; 11-7 SEC). Kentucky needed a win to avoid a sweep. The Razorbacks dominated Saturday’s doubleheader and won both by more than eight runs.

Kentucky’s offense and defense have struggled so far in the series, so in order to get the final-day dub, they would have to pick it up. Luckily, Rachel Lawson’s group was up for the challenge.

‘Cats defense comes out strong

The start on Sunday was similar to both games on Saturday as the ‘Cats were on defense out of the gate. Kennedy Sullivan, the Scott County native and graduate student, was first in the circle. Although she got burnt on Saturday, she came out and allowed no hits early on.

The Wildcats came out swinging on Sunday and did not miss as steady-handed Kayla Kowalik, the sixth-year graduate student, landed on base to start the offense. Up next was sophomore Taylor Ebbs, who sent a zinger out of the park to bring in a two-run homer. Just like that, the ‘Cats were on the board first with 2-0.

In the top of the second, Sullivan held it down on defense with another shutout inning.

HOME RUN TAYLOR EBBS!

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— Kentucky Softball (@UKsoftball) April 23, 2023

Kowalik comes up big

In the bottom of the second, Kowalik came up big again with a RBI single up the middle to tack one more on to give UK a 3-0 lead as they went into the third. Kentucky’s defense was calm, cool and collected as they got three straight outs off of two flyouts and a grounder to send them back to the plate.

Unfortunately for the Wildcats, the bats had shrunk in the third and fourth which made it hard for them to add to the three-score lead. Meanwhile, junior speedster Vanessa Nesby got UK out of a jam in the fourth with a fly ball catch to send them to the fifth with the score still at 3-0.

Nesby catches a flyout in CF to get us out of the jam.

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— Kentucky Softball (@UKsoftball) April 23, 2023

In the top of the fifth, Arkansas found a sweet spot on their bats, bringing in a run to cut their deficit to 3-1. With two outs, Sullivan’s pitch was sent right back at her in the form of a line drive, which she caught nonchalantly to send it to the bottom of the inning. It seemed that Kentucky’s offensive luck continued to fade away as they were held scoreless once again in the fifth.

Sullivan remains calm in the circle

With the score remaining 3-1, the Razorbacks were back up at the plate. Even though they were able to sneak one run in the fifth, Sullivan seemed to take that personally and pitched a quick three-up, three-down in the top of the sixth. Arkansas also had a fast 1-2-3 inning to take it into the seventh still down by two.

The Wildcats looked to hold Arkansas to no runs scored in the top of the seventh to take game three of the series. A Nesby fly-out catch tallied one out for the ‘Cats which was then followed by a ground out. The Razorbacks landed one on base courtesy of a blooped-up ball, but sophomore second baseman Margaret Tobias got the final out for UK to end it.

Kentucky’s 3-1 win over the Razorbacks allowed them to avoid the series sweep and ended their six-game SEC losing streak. UK will have a midweek matchup against EKU on Wednesday night at 5:30 p.m. EST at John Cropp Stadium before they head to Starkville next weekend for another SEC series against Mississippi State.