No. 12 UK Softball posts another perfect weekend in Boca Raton

The No. 12 Kentucky Softball team is rolling, BBN. The Bat ‘Cats completed another perfect weekend at the 2022 Strikeout Cancer Classic on Saturday, moving them to 13-1 on the season. Let’s recap the entire trip to Boca Raton.

Thursday: ‘Cats take the doubleheader

Kentucky began the weekend with a 12-4 win over Jacksonville University in five innings. The Wildcat offense wasted no time in this one, scoring seven runs in the first inning. Jacksonville managed to battle back and put three of their own on the scoreboard in the second, nearly cutting UK’s lead in half. Unfortunately for the Dolphins, though, they couldn’t come any closer.

Erin Coffel, last week’s SEC player of the week, was phenomenal in this one. The sophomore shortstop had two home runs for six-RBI. Her second homer was good enough to tie the school’s single-game RBI record with six. It was the third time in her Kentucky career that she recorded six RBI in one game.

Game two of the day featured the ‘Cats and the Florida Atlantic University Owls. Coffel once again got things going early for the Kentucky offense, scoring Kayla Kowalik on a sac-fly to center field in the first. Taylor Ebbs’ two-RBI double in the third extended the UK lead to 3-0.

Coffel hit another homer in the seventh inning, marking her third of the day. Not to be outdone, Renee Abernathy stepped up to the plate and hit one of her own just minutes later, giving Kentucky a solid 7-0 lead.

Stephanie Schoonover got the start from the hill. She had a no-hitter up until the seventh inning when the Owls ruined all the fun with a lead-off single. Schoonover threw six innings allowing only two hits and striking out five FAU batters. The ‘Cats took it 7-3.

Big win in Paradise!! pic.twitter.com/dRJzfNwihQ

— Kentucky Softball (@UKsoftball) February 25, 2022

Friday: Kayla Kowalik on the brink of history

After some scheduling issues, the ‘Cats ended up playing just one game on Friday against the Columbia Lions. Kowalik scored off a Lauren Johnson RBI single in the top of the first to get things started. It was Kowalik’s 173rd run in her Kentucky career, tying Abbey Cheek’s school record for most runs scored.

Three more Wildcats hit RBI singles in the inning, giving UK a solid 4-0 lead to begin the game. The ‘Cats added two more in the third to extend the lead before Alexia Lacatena tripled in the fifth, giving us the final score of 8-0.

Speaking of Lacatena, she was pretty incredible for the ‘Cats on both sides of the ball. The freshman played for Team Italy in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics before heading to Lexington, and it’s not hard to see why. She threw a complete-game shutout, allowing no runs on just four hits. She also struck out six Lion batters.

Saturday: Kentucky sweeps the weekend

Kentucky’s final game of the weekend came yesterday against the Long Island University Sharks. The UK offense started slow in this one, going four-up, four-down to begin the game. A pair of walks and a two-RBI double finally got the ‘Cats on the board in the second with a 2-0 lead.

Lauren Johnson doubled in the third to score Kowalik, marking the 174th run of her career and breaking the school record. Erin Coffel wanted her moment too, so she hit a first-pitch homer to the left just minutes later to extend the lead to 5-0.

An error in the bottom of the third allowed the Sharks to score, cutting the lead to four. Kentucky quickly made up for it in the top of the fourth thanks to a perfect bunt from Hallie Mitchell. The ‘Cats would go on to add four more runs in the game, including the first-career homer from Emmy Blane in the top of the seventh. We ended with a final score of 10-2.

What’s next?

Kentucky will play their home debut on Thursday against Michigan in the first game of the 2022 John Cropp Classic. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. Get your tickets now, BBN!