Reed’s RBI, Schaper’s Clutch Hits Earns Split With No. 16 Alabama
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Katie Reed hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning, and pitcher Erin Rethlake shut the door with two scoreless innings to cap off an 11-6 win in game two of a split doubleheader with No. 16 Alabama at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington.
The Wildcats played in front of a UK-record crowd of 2,425 fans and a national television audience in game two on ESPN2. Coupled with a 9-0 win by the Crimson Tide in game one of the day, UK now sits at 20-10 overall on the season and picks up a crucial Southeastern Conference win and is now 3-7 on the year in league play. Alabama is 23-9 after Saturday’s results, and 4-4 in SEC play.
The rubber game of this three-game set will be on Easter Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. The game will be shown live on the SEC Network+, ESPN3 and the ESPN app with Dave Baker (pxp) and Dorian Craft (color) on the call.
Game two – Kentucky 11, Alabama 6
Key Stat
Four. Jenny Schaper had four RBI in the game, which is a new career high for the junior catcher from St. Louis. She had had three RBI in three prior games in her career before Saturday.
Eleven. The 11 runs scored by UK was its most in an SEC game since it scored 12 in a 12-4 win at Arkansas in March of 2016.
Key Play
The key play in the game was a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning by Katie Reed. The ball carrumed over the top of the new padding in straight-away center and bounced over the wall for two huge insurance runs going into the last inning.
Key Player
Katie Reed was the key player in the game, scoring three runs on three hits, and also knocking in three. Reed is now hitting .392 on the season and she has scored a team-high 32 runs this season.
Run Recap
Alabama got on the board in the top of the first inning with a run off of Grace Baalman thanks to an RBI double from Gabby Callaway. ALA 1, UK 0
Kentucky would respond with a run in the bottom of the first on an RBI single up the middle from Abbey Cheek, to score Erin Rethlake from third. UK 1, ALA 1
Kentucky loaded the bases with nobody out in the bottom of the second inning, and Jenny Schaper salvaged the inning with a three-RBI double to the wall in right center. UK 4, ALA 1
The Tide would not go away, scoring five times on five hits in the top of the third inning as Alabama bat around. The first four batters in the inning all singled, and then an RBI single from Demi Turner brought home a pair of runs. ALA 6, UK 4
Kentucky would respond like champions in the bottom of the third, striking for three runs on three hits. Alex Martens led off the inning with a double and scored on an RBI single from Bailey Vick – one of her three hits in the game. Katie Reed then singled to the left side to plate a run, and a wild pitch brought home Vick. UK 7, ALA 6
Katie Reed scored her second run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning on an RBI walk to Jenny Schaper with the bases loaded. UK 8, ALA 6
Alex Martens led off the bottom of the sixth with a double and then scored on a two-run home run to center and pinch runner Kaila Johnson scored on an Alabama fielding error. Katie Reed then clubbed a two-run home run to center. UK 11, ALA 6
In the top of the seventh, Reagan Dykes worked a two-out walk, but a strikeout looking by Claire Jenkins ended the game. FINAL – #19 Kentucky 11, #16 Alabama 6
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