Freshman Pitcher Sydney Langdon Dazzles in Kentucky Softball's Home Opening Win
It was a dreary Wednesday night at John Cropp Stadium, but the end result was anything but.
No. 21 Kentucky Softball (13-4, 0-0) played their home opener against the Bellarmine Knights (6-9, 0-0). Although the Knights were on top early in the game, it was a Wildcat show later on. The bats got rolling for Kentucky which helped carry them over Bellarmine in the end, winning by a final score of 3-1.
Freshman right-handed pitcher Sydney Langdon got the start in the circle for the ‘Cats. Right off the bat, it was rocky for Kentucky. At the top of the first, an early defensive error led to loaded bases for the Knights with only one out on the board. A sac-fly allowed Bellarmine to strike first and take the 1-0 lead.
Kentucky’s offense did not have much luck in the first and it was a 1-0 game going into the second inning. Langdon took control on the mound at the top of the second as she went three up, three down. Unfortunately, the second was still a scoreless inning for the Wildcats. Neither team brought in a run in the third inning but Langdon continued to shine in the circle after picking up two more Ks.
At the top of the fourth, it was a 1-0 game in favor of the Knights but that didn’t last for long. Two more Bellarmine batters were struck out at the top of the inning and momentum started to build on offense for the ‘Cats. Senior Indiana native Grace Lorsung got things started with a triple at the bottom of the fourth. A sac-fly courtesy of junior outfielder Taylor Ebbs brought Lorsung in and tied the game up at 1-1. Sophomore catcher Karissa Hamilton joined in on the slug-fest and hit a rocket to place her on second. Another RBI double from the Wildcats allowed Hamilton to make it home and gave Kentucky the 2-1 lead.
Langdon kept the Ks coming in the fifth as she sent two more Knights back to the dugout at the top of the inning. Her efforts, along with Kentucky’s defense, continued to hold Bellarmine to one run. The offense had come alive and senior star Erin Coffel shined at the bottom of the fifth after hitting a line drive to second base that was bobbled and got her to first. Lorsung was the star of the offensive show for the ‘Cats as she hit another deep ball to drive Coffel home, placing her team in front 3-1.
The final two innings were the Langdon show. The freshman made it look easy in the sixth after getting two more strikeouts to get her team back on offense. At the bottom of the sixth, the bats slowed down for the Wildcats as the score was still 3-1 at the top of the seventh.
The Knights had one final shot at the top of the seventh but Langdon shut things down fast after striking out her final two batters, marking her second complete game. A combination of Langdon going for 15 strikeouts on the day and Lorsung hitting bombs got the ‘Cats the 3-1 weeknight win.
Coming up next for Kentucky is their first home series. The Wildcats will face No. 3 LSU at John Cropp Stadium beginning on Friday, March 8. The first game between the conference opponents will be at 6:30 pm EST with coverage of the game on the SEC Network.
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