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Kentucky Softball Wins Mid-Week Rivalry Matchup Against Louisville

IMG_4616by:Katelyn Perkins•03/29/23
Coffel high fives Sullivan
Photo by | UK Athletics

Kentucky softball faced in-state rival Louisville on Wednesday night at John Cropp Stadium and came out with a win of 7-4.

The ‘Cats came into the night off a disappointing weekend series loss to Texas A&M while the Louisville Cardinals brought a seven-game win streak into Lexington. But all good things must come to an end, and to make it happen against a rival is even sweeter.

First on the mound for UK was sophomore Alexia Lacatena, who allowed the Cardinals’ offense to come out swinging as UL quickly loaded the bases.

Bad start for the ‘Cats

With two outs, the ‘Cats needed one more to get out of the jam but a hit off of Lacatena gave Louisville an early 1-0 lead. Luckily, that was all the damage done.

Up first for UK was graduate student Kayla Kowalik. The star catcher has been a consistent on-base presence for the ‘Cats so far this season and that didn’t change in the bottom of the first as she hit a single to start the offense.

Next up for Kentucky was junior Vanessa Nesby, who also hit a single, advancing Kowalik to second. The hitting streak continued as junior Erin Coffel stepped up to the plate and knocked a grounder to get to first.

With the bases loaded, senior Rylea Smith came up in the four spot and hit a two-run RBI single with Kowalik and Nesby making it home. However, Coffel was thrown out at third. Smith’s RBI single gave the ‘Cats a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first.

As Smith remained on base, junior Meeko Harrison came up to the plate and singled to center field, which allowed Smith to make it home, giving UK a 3-1 lead.

Lacatena did her job in the second and third innings as she and Kentucky’s defense gave up no runs. Although the ‘Cats struggled from the plate in the second, Coffel stopped their slump in the bottom of the third.

Harrison’s hitting shines

With Coffel on base, Harrison stepped up again for UK with a RBI single that increased the home team’s lead to 4-1 heading into the fourth.

Kentucky’s defense continued to shine along with Lacatena in the top of the fourth and fifth as the ‘Cats held Louisville to only one score. The fourth inning was another story for UK’s offense.

Sophomore Margaret Tobias started off the inning with a single to land on first which was followed by a ground out from Kowalik that managed to advance Tobias to second. Nesby came up next as she hit a single which allowed Tobias to get on third. Coffel remained steady from the plate with a single to center, bringing in Tobias and putting Nesby on third.

Smith also shined from the plate with another RBI single to bring Nesby in and place Coffel on second.

Suddenly, the ‘Cats were up 6-1 with two outs on the board and junior Grace Lorsung up to bat. Lorsung did not disappoint as she allowed Coffel to get home off a RBI single.

Going into the fifth inning, Kentucky held a large lead of 7-1 over the Cardinals.

Neither team had much luck on offense in the fifth and sixth innings as the ‘Cats remained up 7-1 heading into the seventh.

Not an easy ending

UK needed three more outs to round out the game but struggled in the top of the seventh.

Lacatena gave up two hits which allowed a run to score for Louisville making it 7-2. Up next the Cardinals hit a two-run homer which made it 7-4 and led to a pitching change from Kentucky head coach Rachel Lawson, as senior Sloan Gayan came in for Lacatena. The defense would get it together in the end, collecting the final three outs to seal the 7-4 win.

Coming up next for UK is Georgia this weekend as the ‘Cats will play the Bulldogs in Athens on Saturday at 2 p.m.

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