Kayla Kowalik is Superb on Senior Day With Walk-Off Run
It was Senior Saturday for the Lady Bat ‘Cats.
Kentucky Softball (29-19-1;9-14 SEC) took on the No. 16 Florida Gators (35-18;11-12 SEC) on Saturday at 3 p.m. at John Cropp Stadium. After another deflating late game loss on Friday, the ‘Cats found themselves in a similar position in the seventh, but were able to rally and pull out the 7-6 victory. Senior Kayla Kowalik had a stellar performance after being honored before the game.
Big Kentucky start on Senior Day
Senior Kennedy Sullivan, a Scott County Alum, pitched to start things off for UK. Sullivan came out strong on her second to last game day where she held the Gators to no score in the top of the first. In the bottom of the inning Kowalik stepped up to the plate first and landed on base. Junior Erin Coffel and sophomore Taylor Ebbs were up next, and suddenly the bases were loaded for Kentucky.
With bases loaded, a walk courtesy of Florida pitching, put the ‘Cats on the board first for the sixth straight game. Kentucky was up 1-0 in the top of the second and a dominant defensive showing sent the game into the bottom of the inning with the same score. The bats came out cold in the second for UK and the Gators held the ‘Cats to no runs scored in the second.
Still with a 1-0 lead, UK was back on defense in the third. Florida was able to get a bat on Sullivan’s pitch and rope one to the center field fence that was going over, but Kentucky’s Jenna Blanton had other ideas as she leaped to get the snag. Blanton’s terrific catch and Sullivan’s solid pitching continued to hold the Gators.
Seniors show out
The Wildcats put on an offensive masterclass in the bottom of the third. It all started with a Florida error that allowed a run to score for UK. Up next was Kowalik who hit a sac fly that made room for Blanton to make it home and put Kentucky up 3-0. Coffel stepped up to the plate with two on and found the sweet spot to hit a single RBI up the middle to bring in one more run and go up 4-0.
Kentucky’s pitching started to get a bit shaky in the top of the fourth as Sullivan gave up a hit to place a Gator on base. The next pitch was homered out of the park and Florida cut their deficit down to 4-2. Fortunately for the ‘Cats their bats warmed up in the bottom of the fourth. Junior Grace Lorsung sent a ball into the field which placed her on base and a ground ball from Blanton gave Lorsung the green light to make it home. The run increased UK’s lead to 5-2 going into the fifth.
The fifth was a rough one for Kentucky as Sullivan gave up two runs before senior Sloan Gayan came in to relieve her. Gayan stepped in with no outs on the board and runners on. A ground ball RBI scored for the Gators to tie the game up at 5-5 before Gayan was able to get a K to go into the bottom of the inning.
No runs were allowed by Florida in the fifth or sixth as the game remained tied at 5-5 in the seventh.
‘Cats rally in the seventh
In the top of the seventh, the Gators were swinging away and a ground out gave them room to bring in a run. Luckily the ‘Cats defense stepped up and did not allow the scoring to escalate as they went into the bottom of the seventh down 6-5. Kentucky had one out against them, but a single put UK’s Margaret Tobias on base. The Wildcats were back at the top of their lineup as Kowalik hit a double to advance Tobias to third. Coffel was intentionally walked as the bases were loaded for UK.
With bases loaded once again, a wild pitch to Ebbs allowed Tobias to score and tie up the game at 6-6. Ebbs hit a sac fly and Kowalik tagged up to end the game with a walk-off run which gave Kentucky the 7-6 late-game victory.
The win ties up the series at 1-1 going into the final home game of the regular season for the ‘Cats. Kentucky and Florida will face off one more time at John Cropp Stadium on Sunday afternoon at 2.
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