Kentucky Softball, Stephanie Schoonover Shine in Win at LMU

Kentucky Softball faced Loyola-Marymount University on Tuesday afternoon in Los Angeles, picking up a 1-0 win in the process. Not only was it a victory for the Wildcats as a whole, but also for one talented individual coming off an impressive stretch.

Shortly before first pitch, Kentucky star pitcher Stephanie Schoonover was honored as the National Pitcher of the Week, according to D1Softball. She went 2-0 this past week with a save as she pitched a total of 16.2 innings across three contests, including two complete game shutouts, one of which was a no-hitter that saw her record a school-record 18 strikeouts.

Not long after being recognized as Pitcher of the Week, Schoonover took the mound once again for the ‘Cats.

Schoonover Wins D1Softball National Pitcher of the Weekhttps://t.co/5f32bxTGzA

— Kentucky Softball (@UKsoftball) February 21, 2023

Neither team had much luck offensively to start out on Tuesday, mainly thanks to Schoonover. The Alabama native continued to show why she received a national award after striking out six straight in the first two innings.

To start the third, the ‘Cats had two outs and graduate student Kayla Kowalik got to second before the inning was ended by a strikeout for LMU.

Hitting struggles for both teams

Hitting continued to be an issue for both teams through the fifth. Schoonover made it especially difficult for LMU to find any success after tallying nine strikeouts.

At the top of the sixth with runners on second and third, a single courtesy of junior Grace Lorsung brought in Kentucky’s first run, putting them up 1-0.

Kentucky takes the lead!!

📺 WCC Digital Network
💻 https://t.co/T16K8ifB0K
📊 https://t.co/JJPMQMx2Dx#WeAreUK pic.twitter.com/FsemJ4KS3K

— Kentucky Softball (@UKsoftball) February 21, 2023

Finally a spark for the ‘Cats

After another strikeout and two more outs by the UK defense, the score remained 1-0 heading into the seventh.

Although Kentucky found luck from the plate in the sixth, it quickly ran out in the seventh due to a strikeout by LMU and two ground outs.

Loyola-Marymount was able to land on base in a last-chance effort, but a single led to an out at second. With the out at second, the ‘Cats were able to pull out the 1-0 win over LMU.

Schoonover racked up another double-digit strikeout game as Kentucky’s record improves to 7-1-1 on the young season.

Looking ahead, UK will go just a little down the road to Palm Springs, California to play in the 2023 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic beginning on Thursday. To start game play in Palm Springs, Kentucky will face Washington at 3:00 p.m. EST on Thursday afternoon.