Stoddard's grand slam not enough as Kentucky falls 7-5 to Miami (OH)

In their final game before heading to Tuscaloosa to kick off SEC play, Miranda Stoddard and No. 12 Kentucky Softball spiked the blood-pressure of their fans before ultimately falling to the RedHawks of Miami (OH), 7-5.

Stoddard struggles on the mound against the RedHawks

Coming into the day, Miranda Stoddard had been excellent so far for the Wildcats this season. The junior had posted a 1.89 ERA through 10 starts this season. But past performances mean nothing as she was only able to make it through one inning, allowing seven hits and four earned runs to Miami (OH). She gave up three straight singles without recording an out in the second before being taken out for Kennedy Sullivan.

Sullivan was able to limit the damage. She only allowed one more to cross the plate before stopping the RedHawk offense, keeping the game at 5-0 at the end of the second. The Georgetown, KY native was rolling for a few innings before giving up a two-run shot to Holly Blaska in the fifth that broke the tie.

Otherwise, Sullivan had a pretty successful day. She finished with a line of five innings pitched, allowing three hits while striking out a pair. The only blemish was the two-run shot.

Bats come alive late in the loss

A usually potent offense, Kentucky didn’t get a run across the plate until the third inning. An RBI single from Lauren Johnson brought in Stoddard, but that was all in that frame.

The ‘Cats were able to get the bases loaded with one out in the fourth, where Stoddard was able to make up all the faults she had on the mound today. The California native ripped a grand slam, her second in just over a week, to make it a 5-5 game in the fourth inning.

The ‘Cats were able to get multiple base-runners in the fifth and sixth innings, only to fail bringing a run home both times.

Sitting on a 19-3 record this season, Kentucky travels to Tuscaloosa this weekend for a matchup with Montana Fouts and the No. 3 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. Friday’s matchup is set to begin at 7 p.m. EST and will be broadcasted on the SEC Network+.