UK Softball closes out a perfect weekend in Tuscon

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What a weekend it was for the Kentucky Softball team. With an 11-1 win on Sunday over UC Santa Barbara, the No. 16 Wildcats closed out a perfect 5-0 weekend in Tuscon, AZ at the 2022 Hillenbrand Invitational.

Today’s match was the second time the ‘Cats faced the Olés this weekend. UK crushed UCSB 23-0 on Friday, marking a school record for most runs scored in a game. Though they still got the dub today, this one was a little bit closer (just a little bit).

Kentucky took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning after a two-RBI single from Erin Coffel. Renee Abernathy stole second minutes later as Coffel ran home to tack on another run. Coffel was perfect from the plate on Sunday.

Always good to hang a crooked number up early!

📺 @FloSoftball
🖥 https://t.co/d06O713xx3
📊 https://t.co/liZoT9k83z #WeAreUK x #BeTheStandard pic.twitter.com/T9bjwgei4r
— Kentucky Softball (@UKsoftball) February 20, 2022

The ‘Cats were quiet offensively the next three innings. They came alive in the fifth, though. After loading the bases with a single, a walk and a UCSB error, Abernathy hit a bomb to right field to extend the UK lead to 7-1. Abernathy boasts one of the lower batting averages on the team at .217, but she had quite the impressive showing today. The senior outfielder finished 1-2 at the plate.

Crushedddddddd!!!

📺 @FloSoftball
🖥 https://t.co/d06O713xx3
📊 https://t.co/liZoT9k83z #WeAreUK x #BeTheStandard pic.twitter.com/VkJf6orlZq
— Kentucky Softball (@UKsoftball) February 20, 2022

UCSB had the chance to cut into the lead in the bottom of the fifth, but couldn’t convert. They loaded the bases with two outs, but Miranda Stoddard dug in from the circle and struck out the final Olé batter. Stoddard closed the game for the Wildcats.

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The ‘Cats pushed through four more in the sixth to extend the lead to 11-1. Freshman Taylor Ebbs hit a deep homer to right field to account for two of those runs. It was her first career homer for the ‘Cats, and we suspect she’ll be doing it again soon. Ebbs, the former Oregon Gatorade Player of the Year, was 2-3 from the plate on Sunday.

Kentucky will soon head to Boca Raton, FL next weekend for the FAU Strikeout Cancer Classic. The first game is set for Thursday at 1 p.m. when the ‘Cats will face Jacksonville University.