Kentucky Softball Steals Road Series From Auburn

Kentucky Softball has made its way back into the Top 25 rankings. The Lady Bat ‘Cats are ranked No. 23 in the country, per D1Softball, heading into this week’s action.

Over the past week, the Wildcats have been on a roll. Last Wednesday night the ‘Cats traveled to Bowling Green to face Western Kentucky in their midweek match-up. Kentucky came back to Lexington with the 12-3 run-rule victory.

Although the team breezed to a win during the week, they went into the weekend looking ahead to a road series against Auburn. Kentucky has been able to find a couple of solid SEC series wins so far and the victories kept coming at Auburn.

Game 1: Kentucky 5, Auburn 2

The start of the weekend series looked a little different for the Wildcats as they started on Saturday, April, 20, instead of beginning on their normal Friday slot.

The first game of the series was anything but ordinary for both teams. The first pitch was scheduled for 4:00 p.m. EST, however, Mother Nature had plans of her own. Rain and lightning delays caused the actual game to last more than six hours with breaks. Through the first four innings, Kentucky struggled from the plate and found themselves down 2-0. Things changed quickly though at the top of the fifth for the ‘Cats.

Freshman and Lexington native Peyton Plotts nailed a three-run homer to take the 3-2 late lead in the fifth. Jaden Vickers, the grad transfer from Rutgers, stepped into the circle for the Wildcats following the rain delays allowing only one hit. At the top of the seventh junior Taylor Ebbs bombed a two-run homer to left field to secure the 5-2 victory for the ‘Cats.

Game 2: Kentucky 2, Auburn 1

Sunday’s game for Kentucky was a Sydney Langdon highlight reel. Langdon, a freshman right-handed pitcher from Georgia threw a complete game through six innings. Going into the sixth the Wildcats led 2-0 thanks to an RBI from Karissa Hamilton in the fourth.

At the bottom of the sixth Langdon’s perfect game was ruined due to a lead-off home run from Auburn. However, the freshman did not let the hit shake her on the mound and she closed out the inning giving up no more scores. Although the ‘Cats were unable to bring in another run of their own at the top of the seventh, Langdon secured the 2-1 win at the bottom of the inning with a strikeout.

Game 3: Auburn 4, Kentucky 1

Monday night’s game started strong after senior All-American Erin Coffel roped a solo homer over the fence to give Kentucky the 1-0 lead. The scoring slowed down for both teams after the second inning as Auburn tied things up 1-1. Auburn’s runs began piling up in the fifth after getting a hit off Kentucky senior Stephanie Schoonover to take the 2-1 lead.

The bottom of the sixth inning was rough for the Wildcats on defense. Schoonover started in the circle but was pulled after the bases were loaded and a walked batter led to another Auburn run. Junior New Jersey native Alexia Lacatena stepped on the mound and allowed another run to score before shutting Auburn’s offense down with a pop flyout.

At the top of the seventh Kentucky trailed 4-1. In the end, a struggling offense and defense left the ‘Cats flat as they lost the final game 4-1. But even though they were defeated in the third game between the two teams, the Lady Bat ‘Cats still brought home the 2-1 series win.

Coming up next for the Wildcats is another SEC series, this one against South Carolina. Kentucky will face the Gamecocks at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, starting on Friday, April 26, at 6:30 p.m. EST. The ‘Cats currently sit right above South Carolina in conference standings with a record of 7-11.