Ray’s RBI, Reed’s Defense Gives Kentucky Midweek Win

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The No. 20 Kentucky softball team got three hits and three RBI from senior outfielder Breanne Ray and spectacular defense from sophomore infielder Katie Reed to seal a 6-2 win over the Indiana Hoosiers on Wednesday night. 

The Wildcats with the win improve to 27-13 overall on the season and win their fourth game in a row over the Hoosiers. UK is next in action on Friday night at 7:30 p.m. ET at Missouri for the kick off of a three-game series in Columbia, Missouri. 

Meagan Prince got the win in the circle for the Wildcats on Wednesday night to improve to 14-6 on the year. Prince threw 5.0 innings in the game and allowed one run on just four hits with three walks and a strikeout. Senior hurler Shannon Smith was great in relief for UK, throwing the third and fourth innings, allowing just one run on three hits, and striking out three. 

11. Kentucky recorded 11 hits in the game, it’s highest hitting output offensively since a 7-5 win on March 25 against Arkansas, when the Wildcats also had 11 hits. 

Rachael Metzger singled in the go-ahead run with one out in the top of the sixth inning to score Abbey Cheek from second base on Metzger’s bloop single. 

Katie Reed’s defense and Alex Martens’ offense combined to form the UK player of the game. Katie Reed had a sensational day at shortstop, fielding everything in her range and saving two runs in two different innings. Alex Martens was 3-for-4 on the day with three runs scored, to set a new career high. 

Indiana scored in the top of the first when Taylor Uden hit an RBI single up the middle with two outs to score lead-off batter Rebecca Blitz, who led off the inning with a single. IU 1, UK 1

Kentucky tied the game in the top of the second on a one-out RBI single to left field from Breanne Ray to score Alex Martens, who led off the inning with a double to the wall in center. UK 1, IU 1

Indiana re-took the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning as Bella Norton roped a one-out double to the wall in LF and she was singled home with two outs by Blitz. IU 2, UK 1

Kentucky scored the final five runs, including three in the top of the sixth inning. Alex Martens, Abbey Cheek, Breanne Ray and Rachael Metzger all singled in succession to plate two runs, and Katie Reed walked with the bases loaded and two outs to score Ray and make it a 4-2 game. UK 4, IU 2

In the top of the seventh inning, Kentucky scored two runs. Alex Martens singled to the wall in CF and Abbey Cheek doubled to put two in scoring position for Breanne Ray. Ray grounded out to second for an RBI and Rachael Metzger doubled to left center to score Ray. FINAL – No. 20 Kentucky 6, Indiana 2

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