Sullivan and Gayan Steer No. 16 Kentucky to Biggest Win of Season
ATHENS, Ga. – The No. 16 Kentucky Softball team picked up its biggest win of the season Monday night, shutting out No. 10 Georgia 4-0 behind the arms of Kennedy Sullivan and Sloan Gayan to salvage the final game of the series at Jack Turner Stadium.
Kennedy Sullivan pitched a UK career-high 5.1 innings in the game, allowing no runs on just two hits to one of the most potent offenses in the nation. Sullivan only walked four and struck out two in the game with 94 total pitches and 50 recorded as strikes. Sloan Gayan entered the game with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the sixth and got a popout to Harrison and a strikeout swinging of Sydney Chambley to end the threat.
With Monday night’s win, Kentucky picks up its 22nd win of the season and is now 22-9-1 on the year with a winning record in Southeastern Conference play at 5-4. Georgia falls to 29-7 in the 2023 year overall and falls into a tie for first place with a 9-2 SEC record. The Bulldogs had their 11-game winning streak, and nine-game winning streak in SEC play snapped Monday night.
Kentucky scored four runs in the game with Erin Coffel’s RBI single in the third inning plating Kayla Kowalik, and then three more unearned runs crossed in the fifth inning thanks to a pair of Georgia errors.
UK does not have a midweek contest this coming week, with the Wildcats next games coming Friday through Sunday in Oxford, Mississippi against the Ole Miss Rebels at the Ole Miss Softball Stadium. Sunday’s game will air live on ESPN2.
Key Play
The key play in Monday night’s win was a #SCTop10 catch by Erin Coffel at short on a line drive off the bat of Ellie Arimstead, diving to her left and securing a crucial second out of the inning.
Key Player
Kennedy Sullivan was the key player in the game, going 5.1 innings and picking up her first win of the season in the circle for the Wildcats.
Key Stat
1. Kentucky did not allow a run in Monday’s game, becoming just the second team to shutout the Bulldogs all season (Stanford).
Run Recap
Erin Coffel ripped an RBI single into left center to score Kayla Kowalik from second to put Kentucky ahead in the top of the third inning. UK 1, UGA 0
Rylea Smith reached on an error in the fifth inning, as a ball was dropped in left field allowing Vanessa Nesby to score from second on the play. After Taylor Ebbs ripped a sacrifice fly into center to score Erin Coffel, an error allowed Smith to score on Grace Lorsung’s at bat as the fourth run crossed. UK 4, UGA 0
In the bottom of the seventh, Georgia put two on, but Sloan Gayan got a grounder to short to end the game. FINAL – Kentucky 4, Georgia 0
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