Kentucky Softball Loses in Extra Innings to No. 6 Tennessee
Rocky Top took over the Wildcats on Friday night in Lexington.
No. 16 Kentucky softball (25-11-1; 7-6 SEC) took on the No. 6 Tennessee Volunteers (31-5; 10-2 SEC) on Friday night at John Cropp Stadium. The Vols came into the game on a hot streak while Kentucky has struggled in its most recent SEC series. This weekend’s series is big for both of the ranked squads and their SEC standings.
Lacatena starts strong for Cats
The Volunteers were up at bat to start the game. Sophomore and New Jersey native Alexia Lacatena took the mound for the Wildcats as the ace with Stephanie Schoonover still out due to injury.
Lacatena proved to be a solid replacement as she had some big Ks in the top of the first and second innings to keep the Vols scoreless. Meanwhile, Kentucky also struggled from the offensive side in the top of the first and second.
UK sophomore Taylor Ebbs was the star of the show on Friday night as she had over five catches in right field and a throw-out double play in the middle of the second.
Going into the third, Lacatena struck out the side and took over to keep the game at 0-0 heading into the bottom of the third. Both teams’ offenses were flat in the first three innings. Although the ‘Cats were able to land a few on base, nothing came out of it due to strong pitching from Tennessee.
Kentucky gives up the first run
Entering the top of the fourth, it was still a scoreless game. Lacatena was back on the mound trying to hold the Vols, but they were able to find a sweet spot and send a bomb out of the park to make it a 1-0 lead in Tennessee’s favor.
Luckily UK’s defense was able to keep the Vols from scoring anymore and went into the bottom of the inning down by one.
In the bottom of the fourth, the bats remained cold for the ‘Cats. This was proving to be a defensive game as the score was 1-0 with the Vols ahead at the top of the fifth.
Ebbs continued to have a stellar showing when a Tennessee hit was roped to right field and snagged off by Ebbs for an out. Behind Lacatena, the rest of the defense was still hot and went into the bottom of the fifth holding the Vols scoreless.
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Ebbs shines bright for Cats
Remember Taylor Ebbs? Well, she was back again in the bottom of the fifth except this time she was on offense. She swung for the fences and sent a solo bomb to center field that tied the game at 1-1 heading into the sixth.
Although there were spurts of little hits for UK, no other runs were scored for either team in the sixth and seventh innings, which sent the game into extra innings.
Tennessee takes the lead in extra innings
In the top of the eighth, the Vols were back up to bat. With two outs on the board and two runners on, Kentucky needed to make a big defensive play in order to stay in it. Unfortunately, a bunt courtesy of Tennessee caused some miscommunication among the Kentucky defense and allowed a Vol to score making it 2-1.
The Wildcats defense was able to get out without any other runs scored, but they needed something on offense.
A runner was able to get on with a walk before graduate student Kayla Kowalik struck a grounder down the middle to get on first. Up next was junior Erin Coffel, who had a quiet night with two strikeouts. Coffel was due but could not get it done as she popped up to give the Vols their second out. Junior Grace Lorsung was the last hope for the Wildcats but also popped out to end the night.
After an outstanding defensive game, Kentucky fell 2-1 in the first game of the series on Friday night. Ebbs and Lacatena were the stars of the game but they needed some more help from their teammates.
The Wildcats will have a chance to avenge their loss to Tennessee in game two on Saturday at 12 p.m. at John Cropp Stadium.
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