Peyton’s RBI, Rethlake’s Complete Game Gives UK Rivalry Win

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The No. 20 Kentucky softball team used 15 hits in five innings and eight runs to power past the Louisville Cardinals, 8-0 in five innings on Wednesday night.
 
With the win, Kentucky improves to 22-11 overall on the season and has now won two games in a row over in-state foes. The Wildcats beat EKU 10-0 on Tuesday night before an 8-0 win over the Cards on Wednesday. This marks the second-straight year that Kentucky has run-ruled Louisville.
 
The Wildcats got a career-high three RBI from freshman Mallory Peyton, who knows how much this game means, being from Madisonville. Peyton drove in the first run of the game with an RBI single in the second inning before breaking open the game in the fifth with a two-run single.
 
Erin Rethlake was nothing short of spectacular in the circle for UK, going the distance, and only allowing one Louisville runner to reach third all night. Rethlake was sharp, throwing just 62 pitches the entire game recording five strikeouts.
 
Kentucky returns to the field on Friday for a doubleheader at 3 p.m. ET against Middle Tennessee State. There will be no game on Saturday as previously planned.
 
Key Stat
3. Mallory Peyton recorded a career-high three RBI on Wednesday night.
 
Key Play
The key play in the game was Jenny Schaper’s walk-off single to right field with the bases loaded and two outs to end the game.
 
Key Player
Mallory Peyton was the key player in the game, going 2-for-3 at the plate with three RBI and two singles.
 
Run Recap
After loading the bases in the bottom of the second with nobody out, Peyton hit an RBI single to left to score the Wildcats first run. Freshman Kentucky native Lauren Johnson then plated a run on an RBI single with two outs. UK 2, UL 0
 
In the fifth inning, Kentucky would score six runs on seven hits. Abbey Cheek singled to lead off the inning and coupled with a Bailey Vick put two on with nobody out. Martens then doubled to the wall in left for the second time in the game and came around to score on the second RBI single of the day from Mallory Peyton. Erin Rethlake then singled to load the bases back up before Jenny Schaper launched a walk-off single to right to close out the game with the run rule. FINAL – #20 Kentucky 8, Louisville 0
 
For the latest on UK Softball, follow the Wildcats on Twitter and Instagram at @UKSoftball.