UK Softball wins another series, defeat South Carolina 6-3 in game two

Taking an early 4-0 lead, the Softball ‘Cats came ready for the first of the doubleheader on Senior Day. With a 6-3 victory in Game two at home, Kentucky wins their second straight SEC series after dropping their previous four.

Grace Baalman gets her 9^th win of the season after pitching four innings with three strikeouts, seven hits, and three runs, while also giving up a three-run home run before being benched after the 4^th. Miranda Stoddard came in relief to start the 5^th, finishing out the game with a 2.9 ERA with two hits given up.

Baalman gets a chopper to the left side and a pair of strikeouts in the top of the second inning.

Middle of two – UK 2, USC 0

Stoddard, Kowalik and Spangler lead off in the bottom half.

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— Kentucky Softball (@UKsoftball) May 8, 2021

A single by Mallory Peyton led to a Kayla Kowalik scored run and then a Renee Abernathy sac-fly had Kentucky leading 2-0 at the end of the 1^st. The second inning was more of the same, with 2^nd baseman Lauren Johnson reaching base on an error, finishing the game 0-3 with an RBI, while freshman phenom Erin Coffel reached on fielder’s choice, giving Kentucky a 4-0 lead at the bottom of the 2^nd.

Tatum Spangler went 2-4, scoring a run while Autumn Humes came in as a designated hitter going 1-1 with a double. Mallory Peyton put the finishing touches once the Gamecocks got close with a home run at the bottom of the fourth inning. She finished the game with two hits, three RBIs, and the home run in four plate appearances.

HOME RUN MALLORY PEYTON!!!

She blasts a two-run shot to straightaway CF and it's 6-3 UK after four innings!!

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— Kentucky Softball (@UKsoftball) May 8, 2021

As for South Carolina, Kayla Drotar, now 3-7 on the season was pulled after the 1^st after she gave up four hits and four runs while walking two batters. Karsen Ochs came in relief, pitching the rest of the five innings, striking out two batters, while giving up four hits, two runs, a double, and only one walk.

The Gamecocks managed to pull close, with a three-run home run, hoping to tie up the series at one game apiece. Kenzi Maguire went 2-4, scoring one run with three RBIs and the home run. Kassidy Krupit was the only other player from South Carolina with two hits in four plate appearances. However, the offense could not produce when needed, with Stoddard closing out the game without giving up any runs.

Miranda Stoddard comes in to relieve Baalman and gets three-straight outs to close the door on the USC fifth.

UK leads 6-3. Babbs leads off.

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— Kentucky Softball (@UKsoftball) May 8, 2021

By the time this article is published, the third and final game against South Carolina will already be in progress on ESPN+, as the Wildcats look to sweep their final SEC series before the conference tournament begins May 12^th.