Carson Fall Earns First-Career Win as UK Splits Day 1 of Shriners
CLEARWATER, Fla. – Freshman pitcher Carson Fall earned her first-career win in the circle Thursday afternoon in a 2-0 victory over the Wichita State Shockers. The Wildcats fell to Virginia 4-1 in the second game of UK’s doubleheader in day one of the 2025 ESPN Shriners Children’s Clearwater Elite Invitational Presented by EvoShield.
Kentucky needed just two hits to race past the Shockers in the early game, as the Wildcats got an early sac fly from freshman Allie Blum to make things 1-0 and a second run came in to score via an Allie Blum triple, as she hit in all runs in the game as Kentucky held on to win, 2-0.
Carson Fall went the first four innings, allowing only two hits and striking out two batters as she collected her first win of her young career with no extra-base hits allowed and only four baserunners against the 16 batters she faced. Alexia Lacatena then came in for the final nine outs as she only surrendered a pair of hits, walked none and struck out a batter as the Wildcats improved to 5-1 on the season with the win.
Virginia kept Kentucky’s offense in check in the second game of the day as UK only had two hits against the three pitchers the Hoos used as UVA scored one in the second, one in the fourth and two in the fifth to win the game 4-1.
Kentucky will play two games Friday in the second day of the event as the Wildcats face Clemson at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN2 at field 8 of the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex as Beth Mowins, Michele Smith, Jessica Mendoza and Holly Rowe will have the call from Clearwater. UK will then face No. 9 Oklahoma State at 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
GAME 1 – KENTUCKY 2, WICHITA STATE 0
Key Play
Allie Blum’s RBI triple in the bottom of the third inning with Emory Donaldson scoring was the key play of the game.
Key Player
Carson Fall was the key player in the game, going 4.0 scoreless innings, striking out two, and earning her first-career win.
Super Stat
- Only one Wichita State batter reached third base in the game against UK pitching.
Run Recap
After Ally Hutchins walked to lead off the bottom of the first, McKenzie Bump sacrificed her over and Hutchins took third on the play. Allie Blum then scored Hutchins on a sac fly to center. UK 1, WSU 0
In the bottom of the third, Allie Blum hit a triple into the right field corner to score Emory Donaldson, who walked to begin the inning. FINAL – Kentucky 2, Wichita St. 0
GAME 2 – VIRGINIA 4, KENTUCKY 1
Key Play
Back-to-back triples by Sarah Coon in her first two at bats were the key plays to the game for UVA.
Key Player
Sydney Langdon was the key player for Kentucky, going 4.0 inning and taking the tough-luck loss on just hour hits allowed and two earned runs.
Key Stat
- Kentucky was held to just two hits in the game, with both of them coming in the first three innings.
Run Recap
Ally Hutchins led off the game with a single and scored on a wild pitch with two outs in the first. UK 1, UVA 0
After Coon led off the second with a triple, she scored on a sac fly to tie the game. UK 1, UVA 1
Virginia took the lead in the fourth inning as a lead-off triple turned into a run with two outs on a wild pitch. UVA 2, UK 1
The final two runs for UVA were played in the sixth on a Kentucky error and a double. FINAL – Virginia 4, Kentucky 1
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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