Kentucky Softball falls 8-7 to Missouri; drops second straight series

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On3 image — Photo by Grace Bradley | UK Athletics

Tough weekend for the Kentucky Softball team. After losing 13-0 in game one on Saturday, the ‘Cats fell 8-7 on Sunday to the Missouri Tigers at John Cropp Stadium. The Wildcats have now lost two consecutive SEC series after dropping two of three on the road against No. 6 Arkansas last weekend.

Kentucky will have a chance to steal a game back from the Tigers on Monday for the series finale.

Back and forth game falls in Missouri’s favor

Saturday’s Bark in the Park game was ugly from start to finish. Mizzou’s Kimberly Wert posted seven RBIs as the unranked Tigers shutout the No. 9 Wildcats in embarrassing fashion. Kentucky had just five hits in that game, along with three errors. It was the second-worst loss of Kentucky head coach Rachel Lawson’s 15 years with the school.

Sunday’s match was far more competitive. After a scoreless first inning, Mizzou hit the board first with a solo homer down the left-field line. A Meeko Harrison RBI single tied it up in the bottom of the inning shortly after, though.

Senior catcher Kayla Kowalik hit a homer of her own just minutes later to give the ‘Cats a 3-1 lead — their first of the weekend. Unfortunately, it didn’t last long. Wert hit a bomb to left field in the third, tying the game at 3-3. It was her third homer of the weekend.

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Missouri retook the lead in the fourth off a single through the right side. Rylea Smith tied it up in Kentucky’s half of the inning and left the game tied once again. The Tigers took the lead again after a single and a fielding error in the fifth, leaving UK in a 6-4 hole.

The ‘Cats fought back every step of the way. Stoddard scored in the bottom half of the inning to cut the lead to one. Renee Abernathy homered to center field just minutes later, giving the ‘Cats a 7-6 lead.

The problem is that Mizzou kept fighting back, too. Brooke Wilmes homered to left center in the sixth to tie things once again. A single down the left-field line in the seventh gave the Tigers an 8-7 lead, giving us our final score.