Kentucky Softball's Solid Weekend Gets Washed Away on Last Day

No. 14 Kentucky Softball started the weekend strong in the ESPN Shriners Children’s Invitational, but their final day was cut short by bad weather. Even though the event ended prematurely, it featured plenty of dramatic twists and turns throughout Kentucky’s 2-1 weekend.

Kentucky 12, North Carolina 10

The lady bat ‘Cats took on North Carolina on Thursday, Feb. 15, to begin a long weekend in Clearwater, Fl. Kentucky could not have asked for a better start to the first day as they put up six runs at the top of the first inning. Unfortunately, the Wildcats allowed the Tar Heels to take a run of their own and score five runs by the bottom of the first to make it a 6-5 ballgame.

The top of the third inning was not productive from the ‘Cats offensively speaking. Defensively speaking, it was even worse for the team. Lacatena and the UK defense allowed four runs to come in for North Carolina, which gave them a 9-6 lead.

Although Coach Lawson was most likely trying to save her ace pitcher Stephanie Schoonover for the late game, she had no choice but to put her into the game. The pitching change seemed to be the right move in the fourth, with Schoonover holding the Tar Heels scoreless in the inning. However, the bats remained cold for the ‘Cats and the score was still 9-6 going into the fifth.

Junior Taylor Ebbs stepped up big at the top of the fifth with one batter on base. Ebbs hit a two-run bomb to get the ‘Cats back in the game and cut their deficit down 9-8. Schoonover continued to hold North Carolina in the fifth and Ebbs remained the saving grace for Kentucky in the sixth with a game-tying RBI single. Lexington native Peyton Plotts also had a huge sixth inning as she knocked in a lead-changing run to make it a 10-9 game in favor of the ‘Cats.

At the top of the seventh, back-to-back RBI doubles from team veterans Grace Lorsung and Karissa Hamilton gave Kentucky an even greater lead. Heading into the bottom of the seventh up 12-9, North Carolina loaded the bases. With two outs on the board, Schoonover struck out the final batter to secure the team’s 12-10 dub.

Kentucky 6, Wisconsin 5

Following their crazy first game of the weekend, the Wildcats faced Wisconsin on Thursday evening. Kentucky fell behind early, thanks to a three-run bomb by the Badgers in the top of the first to take a quick 3-0 lead.

Freshman and former McCracken County standout Ally Hutchins got things rolling on offense for UK in the bottom of the second. Hutchins led off with a triple and scored on a groundout RBI, courtesy of Ebbs. Then, a Hamilton rocket out of the park tied up the game at 3-3.

Vickers continued to stay consistent in the third after holding Wisconsin scoreless. The bats were starting to roll for the ‘Cats at the bottom of the third. A Vanessa Nesby RBI brought Coffel home and gave the team their first lead of the game at 4-3 to go into the fourth.

Unfortunately, the tide seemed to turn for the Badgers at the top of the fourth after an error allowed an unearned run to make it home to tie things up at 4-4. One inning later, three straight bunts brought in a run for UK to make it 5-4. An RBI single from Ebbs allowed another Kentucky score to make it home and gave the ‘Cats a 6-4 lead.

The Kentucky errors resurfaced again in the sixth inning, giving Wisconsin another unearned run to trim the deficit to one. Langdon came in to relieve Vickers in the circle after she had a stellar night and only walked one player out of her 115 pitches. The Badgers were able to get two on with only one out against them in their final efforts to win the battle, but Tobias and Coffel secured a double-play which allowed the ‘Cats to go 2-0 on Thursday.

Kentucky was the only team in the tournament to go 2-0 on Thursday. A challenge was awaiting the Wildcats on Friday morning as they took on No. 5 Washington.

Washington 8, Kentucky 1

Schoonover was tasked to shut down the fifth-ranked team in the country. That’s much easier said than done. Washington hit solo shots in the second and third inning to put Kentucky into a 2-0 hole. The Cats finally got going in the bottom of the third with an RBI double by Erin Coffel.

At the top of the fifth a Husky single put one on base with no outs on the board for UK. Lacatena came in for Schoonover in the circle. That’s when things went sideways. Washington scored three runs and Lacatena was pulled with Kentucky trailing 5-1. Vickers stepped in to pitch and got Kentucky their first out of the inning with a K. However, a wild pitch gave a runner on third enough room to make it home which put Washington up 6-1. The Huskies kept things rolling on offense after hitting a triple to bring in two more runs.

Kentucky scored no runs at the bottom of the fifth as the score was 8-1 at the top of the sixth. Pitching improved in the sixth with Vickers striking out two Washington batters but the damage had already been done after the six-run scoring rout in the fifth. The Wildcats only game on Friday ended in an 8-1 loss to the No. 5 Huskies.

Two Rain Outs

Although the ‘Cats were supposed to play two games against UCF and No. 3 Texas on Saturday afternoon in Clearwater, Mother Nature had other plans. After taking an early lead over UCF in the first few innings, the rain began coming down, which resulted in the cancellation of the rest of the games on Saturday, including a highly-anticipated matchup against third-ranked Texas. The team went 2-1 in the ESPN Shriners Children’s Invitational as the Wildcats wrapped up the first two weeks of the season with a 6-2 record.

Up next for the Wildcats is the USC Upstate Tournament in Spartanburg, South Carolina. The ‘Cats will start tournament play on Friday, February 23, at 12:30 p.m. EST against Akron.