Kentucky Softball Crushed in Must-Win Game as Season Comes to an End

And that’s a wrap on the Kentucky softball season.

After winning game one of the Evanston Regional at the 2023 NCAA Tournament on Friday, the Wildcats faced No. 12 Northwestern on Saturday afternoon and fell 10-8. Following the loss at Sharon J. Drysdale Field, the ‘Cats went into an elimination game later that day at 7:00 p.m. where they took on Miami (OH) — which UK had already bested on Friday 9-1 in six innings.

In the rematch against Miami on Saturday night, the Redhawks came out swinging, got up early, and held a lead all game to get the 9-0 shutout victory over UK in just five innings. Miami’s victory ended the Wildcats’ season after just one weekend in the tournament.

Strong start for the ‘Cats

In the first game of the day against Northwestern, Kentucky got off to a hot start as they brought in three runs in the top of the first. New Jersey native Alexia Lacatena was on the mound in the bottom of the first and gave up a two-run homer to make it a close 3-2 game going into the second.

The second inning was another successful offensive showing for the ‘Cats as graduate student Kayla Kowalik hit a three-run bomb to put UK up 6-2. Northwestern found their own rhythm in the third and packed it on the Wildcats scoring not one, not two, not three, but eight runs.

Now with a completely different game in front of them, Kentucky had to locate some more offensive momentum finding themselves down 10-6. Junior Erin Coffel tried to answer after roping a solo homer in the top of the fourth to cut it to 10-7. Neither team had any luck until the seventh when Kentucky native Kennedy Sullivan hit a dinger, but it was too late.

The ‘Cats were now gearing up to play in game two of the double-elimination setting after falling 10-8 to Northwestern.

Run it back Redhawks

With the season now on the line, the ‘Cats had a rematch against the Redhawks of Miami (OH) just a few hours later on Saturday. Unfortunately, things immediately went south for Kentucky in the bottom of the first when Sullivan gave up a solo home run to make it an early 1-0 deficit for UK.

In the top of the second, the Redhawks left some ‘Cats stranded on base but did not leave their own after hitting a grand slam to put UK in an even deeper, 6-0 hole. Kentucky seemed more discouraged as they were back up at the plate in the third and was sent back out on defense with a quick three up, three down courtesy of the Redhawks.

Miami’s bats just kept on swinging and were successful once again in the bottom of the fourth. The Redhawks were able to bring in another run off of relief pitcher Alexia Lacatena to make it 7-0. Following the score, Kentucky’s star pitcher Stephanie Schoonover entered the game and quickly picked up two Ks to stop the bleeding.

But the ‘Cats never found their offensive momentum. In the fifth, Schoonover gave up a game-ending homer that put UK away in run-ruling, shutout fashion.

A combination of bad pitching and a nonexistent offense sent the Wildcats packing on Saturday night. It was an up-and-down season for Kentucky that came crashing to a disappointing close after just three tournament games.