UK Softball Falls Short to Auburn in SEC Series
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UKathletics.com[/caption]
UK softball hosted No. 21 Auburn in their SEC home opener over the weekend. The Cats won their first two SEC series of the season on the road against LSU and Mississippi State, taking both series 2-1. The Wildcats were 27-5 (4-2 in SEC) before hosting No. 21 Auburn who were 29-5-1 (4-2 in SEC), who defeated LSU and Mississippi State in their first two SEC series of the season.
The Cats came out swinging in game one of the series on Friday, scoring three runs in the first inning. Ansley Smith led off for the Cats with a double to right-centerfield and advanced to third with a bunt single by Sylver Samuel. The Wildcats posted their first run in the bottom of the first with a double steal that scored Ansley Smith from third and advanced Samuel to second. Griffin Joiner was then inadverntely walked and Lauren Cumbess loaded the bases for the Cats with a single. The next two runs for the Cats came after a RBI fielder's choice by Emily Gaines and a sac fly by Nikki Sagermann. UK posted two more runs in the bottom of the third, stretching the lead 5-0 with solo-homeruns from Kelsey Nunley and Maisie Steed.
Sophomore pitcher Kesley Nunley started in the circle for the Cats, holding the Tiger's from scoring through the first three innings before they answered back in the top of the fifth. The Tigers scored 5 runs on four hits. Auburn put two on with no outs after an error by Cumbess allowed Melero to reach first. The lead was cut to 5-2 after a 2 RBI single by the Tigers, who then went on to score two more runs on a throwing error and one run on a groundout. With the score tied at 5-5, the Cats were unable to produce in the bottom of the fourth and the Tigers went on to score two more runs in the top of the fifth after a double to start the inning followed by a homerun. UK's last chance in the bottom of the 7th to tie the game or take the win fell short after a homerun by Emily Gaines that cut the lead 7-6, followed by the Cats loading the bases with two out. However, Chrisistian Stokes couldn't pull through for the Cats, hitting a fly ball to center field to end the game. The Cats were defeated 7-5.
A rain delay on Saturday pushed game 2 against Auburn to Sunday, making Sunday’s schedule consist of a double header against the highly ranked Auburn team. The Cats split the double header with the Tigers, falling short in game one 6-4, and claiming the second game 2-1.
Lauren Cumbess started game one on Sunday on the mound for the Cats before being replace by freshman pitcher Meagan Prince in the second inning due to an injury obtained after getting tied up with Auburns first baseman after a hitting a single in the bottom on the first. The Wildcats fell behind 6-0 before plating 4 runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead 6-4. The Cats came up empty handed in the bottom of the seventh, falling short to the Tigers for the second straight time. Griffin Joiner had two RBI and Nikki Sagermann hit a two-run homerun, her fifth homer of the season in game one of the double header while Meagan Prince picked up the loss, moving to 6-3 on the season.
The victory in game three of the series for the Cats came from a rally in the bottom of the 6th inning after the Tigers went up 1-0 in the top of the 6th. Sophomore Sylver Samuel led off with a bunt single followed by a walk. Junior catcher Griffin Joiner hit a single up the middle to load the bases with one out before Maisie Steed singled to tie the game 1-1. Auburn pitcher Marcy Harper walked pinch hitter Ansley Smith, the winning run across the plate for the Cats who then held off the Tiger’s offense in the 7th to seal the victory. Kelsey Nunley threw seven strong innings allowing one earned run off five hits and struck out 11, tying her career high and moved to 12-3 on the season.
If the Men’s basketball team defeating Louisville Friday night just wasn’t enough for you, you have two more chances this week to see the Cats possibly defeat the Cards. The baseball team host Louisville Tuesday evening at 6:00pm and the softball team host Louisville on Wednesday evening 6:00pm.
UKathletics.com[/caption]
UK softball hosted No. 21 Auburn in their SEC home opener over the weekend. The Cats won their first two SEC series of the season on the road against LSU and Mississippi State, taking both series 2-1. The Wildcats were 27-5 (4-2 in SEC) before hosting No. 21 Auburn who were 29-5-1 (4-2 in SEC), who defeated LSU and Mississippi State in their first two SEC series of the season.
The Cats came out swinging in game one of the series on Friday, scoring three runs in the first inning. Ansley Smith led off for the Cats with a double to right-centerfield and advanced to third with a bunt single by Sylver Samuel. The Wildcats posted their first run in the bottom of the first with a double steal that scored Ansley Smith from third and advanced Samuel to second. Griffin Joiner was then inadverntely walked and Lauren Cumbess loaded the bases for the Cats with a single. The next two runs for the Cats came after a RBI fielder's choice by Emily Gaines and a sac fly by Nikki Sagermann. UK posted two more runs in the bottom of the third, stretching the lead 5-0 with solo-homeruns from Kelsey Nunley and Maisie Steed.
Sophomore pitcher Kesley Nunley started in the circle for the Cats, holding the Tiger's from scoring through the first three innings before they answered back in the top of the fifth. The Tigers scored 5 runs on four hits. Auburn put two on with no outs after an error by Cumbess allowed Melero to reach first. The lead was cut to 5-2 after a 2 RBI single by the Tigers, who then went on to score two more runs on a throwing error and one run on a groundout. With the score tied at 5-5, the Cats were unable to produce in the bottom of the fourth and the Tigers went on to score two more runs in the top of the fifth after a double to start the inning followed by a homerun. UK's last chance in the bottom of the 7th to tie the game or take the win fell short after a homerun by Emily Gaines that cut the lead 7-6, followed by the Cats loading the bases with two out. However, Chrisistian Stokes couldn't pull through for the Cats, hitting a fly ball to center field to end the game. The Cats were defeated 7-5.
A rain delay on Saturday pushed game 2 against Auburn to Sunday, making Sunday’s schedule consist of a double header against the highly ranked Auburn team. The Cats split the double header with the Tigers, falling short in game one 6-4, and claiming the second game 2-1.
Lauren Cumbess started game one on Sunday on the mound for the Cats before being replace by freshman pitcher Meagan Prince in the second inning due to an injury obtained after getting tied up with Auburns first baseman after a hitting a single in the bottom on the first. The Wildcats fell behind 6-0 before plating 4 runs in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead 6-4. The Cats came up empty handed in the bottom of the seventh, falling short to the Tigers for the second straight time. Griffin Joiner had two RBI and Nikki Sagermann hit a two-run homerun, her fifth homer of the season in game one of the double header while Meagan Prince picked up the loss, moving to 6-3 on the season.
The victory in game three of the series for the Cats came from a rally in the bottom of the 6th inning after the Tigers went up 1-0 in the top of the 6th. Sophomore Sylver Samuel led off with a bunt single followed by a walk. Junior catcher Griffin Joiner hit a single up the middle to load the bases with one out before Maisie Steed singled to tie the game 1-1. Auburn pitcher Marcy Harper walked pinch hitter Ansley Smith, the winning run across the plate for the Cats who then held off the Tiger’s offense in the 7th to seal the victory. Kelsey Nunley threw seven strong innings allowing one earned run off five hits and struck out 11, tying her career high and moved to 12-3 on the season.
If the Men’s basketball team defeating Louisville Friday night just wasn’t enough for you, you have two more chances this week to see the Cats possibly defeat the Cards. The baseball team host Louisville Tuesday evening at 6:00pm and the softball team host Louisville on Wednesday evening 6:00pm.
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