Kentucky Softball Drops Second Game of Georgia Series
Make that two straight losses for the ‘Cats.
No. 16 Kentucky softball (21-9-3; 4-4 SEC) went up against the No. 10 Georgia Bulldogs (29-6; 9-1 SEC) on Sunday in the second game of the series. After a disappointing 9-5 loss on Saturday, the ‘Cats looked to bounce back, but thanks to three home runs from Georgia in the bottom of the fourth inning and the go-ahead, game-winning run in the bottom of the fifth, the Bulldogs, which have now won 11 in a row, came out with a close 4-3 victory
Starting on the mound for UK in game two was sophomore Alexia Lacatena. The New Jersey native came out strong in the top of the first as she retired the Bulldog’s first three batters.
It was a slow start offense heading into the third with both sides still scoreless. But graduate student Kayla Kowalik got the bats rolling for the ‘Cats in the top of the third, knocking a double to build some momentum
With one on and one out, junior Erin Coffel was up next at the plate. The talented hitter slapped a RBI single to bring Kowalik in which tallied her 38th run of the season.
Offensive strengths early
A single from junior Meeko Harrison allowed Coffel to bring in another run in the top of the third making it a 2-0 lead for the ‘Cats.
Lacatena and Kentucky’s defense continued to hold the Bulldogs to no runs scored heading into the fourth. With a two-run lead, UK was unable to score in the fourth, allowing Georgia an opportunity to get hot.
Momentum shift
The Bulldogs were able to score in devastating fashion thanks to three solo homers in the bottom of the fourth inning, taking a 3-2 lead going into the fifth.
Luck seemed to run out for Kentucky in the fifth as they could not find any offensive momentum to score. Georgia brought in another run after senior Sloan Gayan came into relieve Lacatena on the mound.
Heading into the sixth the ‘Cats trailed 4-2.
A RBI double from senior Rylea Smith in the top of the sixth cut Kentucky’s deficit to 4-3. UK’s defense needed to find some stops in the bottom of the inning, and that’s exactly what they did as they went three up and out to head into the seventh still behind one run.
Junior Vanessa Nesby was up first for the ‘Cats but grounded out at first to start the final inning. Coffel also grounded out as the ‘Cats had one out between them and another loss.
Junior Grace Lorsung was able to make it to first off of a Georgia error. UK would eventually get another runner on base, but Harrison struck out to end the game. Lacatena picked up her third loss of the season for the ‘Cats.
After having struggles on both sides of the field, Kentucky fell 4-3 to the Bulldogs on Sunday in Athens as Georga takes the series. The Wildcats will face UGA one last time on Monday at 7 p.m. in Athens on SEC Network.
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