Kentucky Softball Swept in Road Series Against Mississippi State
The Kentucky Lady Bat ‘Cats were hoping to avoid a sweep on Sunday in Starkville.
No. 22 Kentucky (28-18-1; 8-13 SEC) faced off against the Mississippi State Bulldogs for their final game of the series on Sunday afternoon. After two tough losses on Friday and Saturday, the ‘Cats desperately needed a win. The Wildcats came into Sunday having lost seven of its last 10 outings.
Unfortunately, the losing skid was extended after Mississippi State polished off the sweep with a 7-4 victory, handing Kentucky just its second series sweep of the season.
Another strong start for Kentucky
To start the first, Kentucky power hitter Erin Coffel roped one to the center field wall for a double. Next up was graduate student Kayla Kowalik, who hit a grounder that was able to find its way past the infield and bring in Coffel to give the ‘Cats an early 1-0 lead.
The Bulldogs also had some luck from the plate after they were able to knock a solo homer off of Kentucky native and graduate student Kennedy Sullivan, who was in the circle for Kentucky.
In the top of the second, it was a quick 1-1 game. Neither team could do anything on offense in the second, and it was still tied as they went into the third.
Kentucky’s bats were not working for them in the top of the third and they went into the bottom of the inning with no more runs scored. But unlike Kentucky, the Bulldogs hit a two-run zinger out of the park to take a 3-1 lead into the fourth.
Pitching struggles still strike the ‘Cats
The fourth inning was similar to the second as both teams continued to show inconsistency from the plate.
In the top of the fifth, the score remained 3-1 as the ‘Cats were back up to bat. A wild Mississippi State pitch gave Kentucky sophomore Taylor Ebbs the green light to make it home, cutting the Wildcats’ deficit down to 3-2. Junior pitcher Stephanie Schoonover entered the game for the ‘Cats in the bottom of the fifth, giving up a two-run bomb that increased the Bulldog’s lead to 5-2.
The bats began working for UK in the sixth as redshirt freshman Jenna Blanton laid down a bunt to get on first.
Up next for Kentucky was Coffel who was walked, which put two runners on base for the ‘Cats. Kowalik rocketed a two-run RBI double into the outfield which made it a 5-4 game, but the rest of the offense could not bring Kowalik in and they went into the bottom of the inning down just one run.
Multiple homers for MSU results in sweep
With two outs against them in the bottom of the sixth and one on base, Mississippi State was able to find the sweet spot on the bat and hit another two-run homer to go up 7-4. Thanks to a ground out for the ‘Cats, both teams went into the seventh.
Kentucky ground balls gave the Bulldogs their first two outs of the seventh and final inning. Junior Meeko Harrison was the last hope for the ‘Cats. Harrison hit a line drive to left field that placed her on first. Unfortunately, another ground-out finished off the game for Kentucky as they fell 7-4.
The series sweep was the first for the Bulldogs over UK since 2017. The loss also tallied Kentucky’s second SEC series sweep on the season, with the only other being against Tennessee.
With the SEC Tournament looming, the ‘Cats will play their final regular season home series against Florida starting on Friday, May 5 at 6:30 p.m.
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