Kentucky Softball Crushes Bellarmine 13-4 in Midweek Matchup
The ‘Cats are back and secured a big midweek win.
No. 16 Kentucky softball (25-10-1; 7-5 SEC) traveled about an hour and a half up the road to Louisville to take on in-state opponent Bellarmine (4-32; 1-11 ASUN) on Wednesday afternoon. This would mark the first-ever matchup between UK and Bellarmine in both programs’ histories.
After a 9-3 beatdown loss to Ole Miss over the weekend that prevented the ‘Cats from sweeping, Kentucky came into Wednesday looking for a momentum-building win ahead of this weekend’s series in Lexington against No. 6 Tennessee. That’s exactly what happened.
Starting off strong
UK was up to bat to start the game. At the top of the lineup was Kentucky’s steady-handed graduate student Kayla Kowalik. The Texas native landed on first due to a walk courtesy of the Knights’ pitching. Up next was junior ball bomber Erin Coffel, who hit a single to put her on first. However, Kowalik was tagged out on her way to second.
Junior Grace Lorsung was next with two outs against her. But that did not stop her as she hit a grounder up the middle that was able to sneak into the outfield. Lorsung’s hit allowed Coffel to score which made it a 1-0 game. Unfortunately, Lorsung did not advance after sophomore Taylor Ebbs hit a fly ball to give Bellarmine the third out.
Senior Sloan Gayan made her fourth start of the season on the mound for the ‘Cats. Gayan has played a huge role as a reliever in Kentucky’s last couple of series. That being said, she gave up a two-run homer in the bottom of the first to give the Knights a 2-1 early lead. Gayan was able to close out the inning with a K to stop the bleeding.
‘Cats turning bad defense into good offense
In the top of the second, the offense started rolling for the ‘Cats.
Sophomore Margaret Tobias hit a RBI triple to give UK a 3-2 lead with only one out against them. On deck for Kentucky was freshman Jenna Blanton, who has played a quiet role so far this season. Blanton stepped up and hit a rocket out of the park to tally her first home run of the season, tacking on another run to make it 4-2 in Kentucky’s favor.
In the bottom of the second, the UK defense needed to straighten it up so that they could maintain their two-run lead. Gayan did just that with a strikeout to start the inning. The defense did its job in the bottom of the second as the score remained 4-2 heading into the third.
Bellarmine’s pitching struggled in the top of the third as three hitters were put on due to walks. With bases loaded, the ‘Cats had two outs against them and needed to take advantage of their situation. Luckily for Kentucky, another Wildcat was walked which brought in another score to make it a 5-2 UK lead.
Blanton came in and took over on offense once again in the top of the third as she roped a single down the center and brought in two more runs. Blanton’s RBI single made it a 7-2 UK lead as Kowalik was back up at the plate. Kowalik was walked again, which loaded the bases once more as Coffel stepped up to the plate.
Ball bomber back at it again
Coffel hit a bomb to give her a grand slam and make it an 11-2 game. The homer also made it Coffel’s 14th of the season so far. Still with only two outs on the board, Bellarmine made a pitching change after junior speedster Vanessa Nesby hit one down the center to land on first.
The Knights were able to get a stop and send the ‘Cats back on defense after a huge third inning. But Kentucky’s defense was just as hot as their offense as they were able to round out the third with no runs scored and a double play courtesy of Nesby.
Heading into the top of the fifth, the offensive gas had run out for UK as the score remained 11-2 going into the bottom half of the inning. Bellarmine’s offense picked it up as they scored two runs on Gayan. Sophomore pitcher Alexia Lacatena entered for relief as runs were being given up. Lacatena was able to get the ‘Cats out of their rut as the score was 11-4.
After a slow sixth inning, Kowalik landed on first to start the offense in the seventh for the ‘Cats.
Next up was the ball buster herself, Coffel, who proved to be just that as she hit a triple to right field. The RBI triple allowed Kowalik to land at home and make it a 12-4 game. Another run was brought in before Bellarmine was able to get the third out.
Kentucky and Lacatena closed out the Knights in the bottom of the seventh. Coffel made history along the way, becoming one of three players in program history to have three seasons of at least 45 runs batted in.
Kentucky will now prepare for the No. 6 ranked Volunteers, which come to Lexington for a three-game series set for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at John Cropp Stadium. Game one on Friday will begin at 6:30 p.m. EST.
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