Cheek Powers Seventh-Seeded Kentucky into SEC Quarterfinals

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Sophomore slugger Abbey Cheek pummeled two home runs over the wall in left field, as the seventh-seeded Kentucky slugged its way to a 7-3 win over the tenth-seeded South Carolina Gamecocks on Wednesday night in the opening round of the 2017 Southeastern Conference Tournament. 

Because of Kentucky’s win, the Wildcats advance into the quarterfinal round and will face second-seeded Auburn on Thursday at 5 p.m. ET. The game will be shown live on the SEC Network, ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app with Beth Mowins (pxp), Michele Smith (color) and Holly Rowe (dugouts) on the call. 

The win improves Kentucky’s NCAA Tournament resume, as the Gamecocks are ranked nationally in both top-25 polls and are also in the top-25 nationally in the RPI. UK now sits at 36-16 overall and 20 games above the .500 mark. 

Abbey Cheek hit her 11th and 12th home runs of the season, off two different pitchers, in back-to-back at bats, accounting for four of Kentucky’s seven runs in the game. The Wildcats needed all of the offense they could manage, as the Gamecocks loaded the bases in the sixth and seventh innings – but Meagan Prince came on to close out the game in the seventh. 

Two. For the second time this year, Abbey Cheek hit two home runs in the same game. The prior time was Missouri, when she homered twice on Sunday. 

With the bases loaded for South Carolina in the top of the sixth inning and just one out, South Carolina hit into a 1-2-3 double play to end the inning as Jenny Schaper made a fantastic turn behind the plate to get the force and then fired to Rachael Metzger at first to end the inning. 

Brooklin Hinz was the key player in the game, as she kept her hot streak going with a 2-for-4 day with two runs scored, two hits, a double and an RBI to score the first run of the game for UK. 

Bailey Vick singled with two outs and came around to score on a Brooklin Hinz RBI double to the wall in left center. The next batter was Abbey Cheek who homered to left field to make it 3-0 in the bottom of the third inning. UK 3, USC 0

Alex Martens led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a double to left center and a two-out infield single from Erin Rethlake brought her home to make it 4-0 Kentucky. UK 4, USC 0

Brooklin Hinz walked in the bottom of the fifth, and came around to score on Abbey Cheek’s second home run of the game to left field – one that was over the train tracks. Breanne Ray then singled and pinch runner Brynlee Bigelow came around to score on an RBI single into RF by Jenny Schaper. UK 7, USC 0

In the top of the sixth inning, South Carolina scored twice on solo home run from Alyssa Vanderveer and then an RBI single from Jordyn Augustus. UK 7, USC 2

Kentucky allowed a lead-off home run in the top of the seventh to Tiara Duffy, but the Gamecocks left two on base to end the game. FINAL – (7) Kentucky 7, (10) South Carolina 3

For the latest on the Kentucky softball team, follow @UKSoftball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, as well as on the web at UKathletics.com.