Kentucky Softball Weathers the Storm to Earn Rivalry Win at Louisville

Madyson Clark and Emory Donaldson - Tommy Quarles, UK Athletics

It’s going to be a stormy weekend in the Bluegrass, but that did not deter the Kentucky softball team against in-state rival as the Wildcats beat Louisville 8-3 on Wednesday. UK scored five runs in the top of the seventh inning to put this game away.

Whatever It Takes

In a rivalry matchup, Kentucky did whatever it took to beat the Louisville Cardinals. The score may not look as tight as this game was, but the Wildcats won this game with true grit.

UK was down by two runs heading into the fifth inning. The bats were not on fire tonight so the ‘Cats needed to find different ways to score. That is exactly what they did.

With the bases loaded from a single and two walks, two Wildcats were able to draw walks to tie the game. Onto the seventh inning, with the bases loaded again, Hallie Mitchell took a hit-by-pitch to take the lead.

It was not the prettiest game up until the seventh inning, but anything to beat an in-state foe will be done.

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After the hit-by-pitch, Madyson Clark was inserted into the game as a pinch hitter. She continued the late-game rally with a RBI single to right field, putting Kentucky up by two.

BIG TIME MADDY CLARK!!

3-5, Top 7th pic.twitter.com/6iojP9HGHX
— Eleanor Beavin (@EBeavinKSR) April 3, 2025

Feeding off the energy created in this inning, Emory Donaldson blasted a ball over the left fielder, scoring three runs and landing her with a triple. If there was anyone on the roster to have a big game against Louisville, it would be Donaldson who calls the city her hometown.

Emory Donaldson gets a HUGE 3 RBI TRIPLE in her hometown to put the Cats up by five!!

8-3, Top 7th pic.twitter.com/eGOiGBu412
— Eleanor Beavin (@EBeavinKSR) April 3, 2025

Kentucky quickly went from down two runs to up by five, only needing three more outs to secure the win. Sarah Haendiges got her sixth strikeout of the game and produced two more outs to bring the win on home to Lexington.

This was a huge game for Kentucky as they were on a four-game losing streak. Looking forward, the ‘Cats will face off against Auburn this weekend at John Cropp Stadium (weather permitting).

Friday, April 4