Kentucky softball drops both games on Saturday, eliminated from NCAA Tournament
Following a terrific start to the NCAA Tournament on Friday that saw a walk-off game-winner, Kentucky softball couldn’t keep the momentum rolling on Saturday in the Stillwater Regional.
The Wildcats made it into the winner’s bracket with a 4-3 win in the opener last night, but dropped the first game on Saturday to Oklahoma State, 6-2, and then lost the rematch against the Wolverines later that night by a score of 4-2.
As a result, Kentucky’s 2024 season comes to an end with a 31-24 overall record and 15 consecutive seasons of making the NCAA Tournament.
In the first game against Oklahoma State on Saturday afternoon, the ‘Cats were off to a hot start. With the bases loaded in the top of the first, Grace Lorsung hit a single that scored Rylea Smith. Freshman Ally Hutchins — the savior from Friday night’s outing — hit another single to allow Erin Coffel a run, earning UK an early 2-0 lead at the top of the first.
OSU bounced back quickly though, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first to curb the ‘Cats lead and go up 4-2. A home run by Jilyen Poullard gave the Cowgirls momentum, which was followed by a run off a wild pitch and two singles to end the first inning at 4-2 in favor of OSU.
After a scoreless second inning for both teams, Claire Timm doubled for the Cowgirls to get a run for Rosie Davis, improving their lead to 5-2.
Oklahoma State then capitalized off a perfectly pitched sixth inning to get back on the bat, where Jilyen Poullard drilled another homer to advance the Cowgirls to 6-2 in the bottom of the sixth, which ultimately sent OSU to the Stillwater Regional finals set for Sunday.
In game two against Michigan with the season on the line, Kentucky fell into a quick 2-0 hole by the end of the second inning. The Wildcats would gain a run back in the top of the third, but Michigan quickly countered with two more runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 4-1.
Kentucky was able to tack on another run in the top of the fourth to make it 4-2, but the bats couldn’t gain any momentum the rest of the way. Michigan swapped pitchers in the fifth and didn’t give up a single hit the rest of the way. The Wolverines advance to face Oklahoma State on Sunday with a spot in the Super Regionals on the line.
Despite an early exit from the postseason, this season marked the 11th in a row that Rachel Lawson’s club won the opening round of an NCAA Regional. Unfortunately, that’s as far as the ‘Cats would make it.
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