UK Softball completes successful double-header in Florida
The Kentucky Softball team is now 3-0 on the season after a successful double-header this afternoon at the 2022 Northern Lights Southern Nights tournament in Leesburg, Florida. Let’s recap how it all went down.
Game 1: Kentucky vs. Michigan State
The No. 19 ‘Cats defeated Michigan State 7-0 in their first game of the day on Friday. Stephanie Schoonover got the start on the mound for Kentucky. Schoonover pitched the full seven innings, allowing only three hits. She threw six strikeouts and walked just one batter out of the 26 that she faced.
Renee Abernathy got things started offensively with a triple down the right-field line in the first inning, scoring Lauren Johnson and Kayla Kowalik. Emmy Blane flied out to centerfield next, bringing Abernathy across home plate.
Kowalik singled down the left field line in the second to bring in Rylea Smith and extend the lead to 4-0. Kowalik was named preseason All-SEC along with shortstop Erin Coffel earlier this week, adding to her long list of awards. The senior catcher was 3-4 at the plate against the Spartans.
Another single from Tatum Spangler in the fourth scored Vanessa Nesby. The ‘Cats were quiet in the next two innings, but sent two more across the plate in the seventh. Renee Abernathy accounted for one of those RBIs, her third of the day.
Game 2: Kentucky vs. Liberty University
The ‘Cats faced Liberty University next. Alexia Lacatena pitched the second game. It was her first-career start for Kentucky — and she certainly did not disappoint. Lacatena pitched four innings, ending with five strikeouts and just one hit. The freshman played for Team Italy in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Izzy Harrison replaced her in the fifth, but was quickly sent back to the bullpen after an error allowed Liberty to tie the game at 1-1. Head coach Rachel Lawson looked for some leadership to close the game. Thus, Miranda Stoddard took the mound. Stoddard closed the inning with no more runs allowed, stranding runners on second and third.
Things were slower offensively in the second game. Blane scored the opening run for the ‘Cats on an RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the fourth. Things stayed tight until Erin Coffel hit a deep homer to left field, the first of UK’s 2022 season.
The ‘Cats will next face the University of Iowa tomorrow at 10 a.m. You can watch live on FloSoftball or follow @UKSoftball on Twitter for live game updates.
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