Reasner and Borzilleri’s Clutch Hits Push Kentucky Past Dayton
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Freshman Cassie Reaser had two mammoth at bats in her first-career start and sophomore Lauryn Borzilleri drove in the game-winning run on an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth inning as the Kentucky Softball team came from behind to beat Dayton on Tuesday night at John Cropp Stadium.
Kentucky snapped a three-game winning streak with the 4-3 win over the Flyers as UK got its first win of the season when trailing entering the sixth inning or later. The Wildcats trailed 3-2 going into the bottom of the sixth inning, but scored two in the bottom half and Stephanie Schoonover closed the door on her 11th win of the season in the top of the seventh.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 21-11 overall on the season. Dayton falls to 13-12 with the loss and the Flyers are 3-3 in A-10 play. Kentucky will play No. 9 Alabama in a three-game Southeastern Conference series beginning Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. ET at John Cropp Stadium.
The Wildcats had five hits in the game with three of the five coming from the bottom third of the order as Kentucky got solid production offensively from Karissa Hamilton, Borzilleri and Lorsung. Dayton also had five hits in the game with two errors. Kentucky had three defensive miscues, but the Wildcats came up with a huge defensive play in the top of the seventh by Rylea Smith to nail the lead runner at third with nobody out.
Sydney Langdon started the game and did not allow an unearned run all evening and struck out three batters. Schoonover got the win and allowed just two hits in the final four innings.
Key Play
The key play of the game came in the top of the seventh with a runner on first and nobody out. The Flyers sent a ball behind the runner and the single went into shallow right field. The Dayton runner rounded second and headed for third where Rylea Smith threw a bullet to Grace Lorsung at third and the tag was applied to get the first out of the inning.
Key Player
The key player in the game was Cassie Reasner who had a sac fly in the fourth inning that was overturned on replay to obstruction as Emory Donaldson scored from third. She also had the game-tying hit in the bottom of the sixth inning and scored the game-winning run on Lauryn Borzilleri’s RBI single.
Key Stat
- Kentucky had five freshman play vital roles in the game Tuesday night.
Run Recap
Two Kentucky errors gave Dayton the lead in the top of the first inning. UD 1, UK 0
In the bottom of the second, Grace Lorsung led off the inning with a solo home run. UK 1, UD 1
Dayton took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI single. UD 2, UK 1
After Peyton Plotts led off the bottom of the fourth with an advancement on an error, pinch runner Emory Donaldson scored on a sacrifice fly. UK 2, UD 2
Dayton hit a solo HR in the top of the sixth inning. UD 3, UK 2
In the bottom of the sixth, Cassie Reasner had an RBI double to score Hallie Mitchell and Lauryn Borzilleri gave Kentucky its first lead of the night on an RBI single to the gap in right center as Reasner scored. FINAL – Kentucky 4, Dayton 3
NEW for 2024 – The Kentucky Softball Designated Players Club
The Designated Players is the Official Booster Program of Kentucky Softball. Financial contributions and community support through The Designated Players program, Kentucky Softball will be able to continue to develop our student-athletes on and off the field. To join The Designated Players, you can join online or click here to download the membership form and mail to the address listed. For more information, email Kristine Himes at kentuckysoftball@uky.edu or Larry Cash at Larry.Cash@uky.edu.
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