Anson’s Two Home Runs, Solid Pitching, Sweep Saturday in Memphis
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Thanks to a two home run game from freshman Maddy Anson and a complete game in the circle by senior Sarah Haendiges, the Kentucky Softball team beat Memphis 7-1 and in the first game, McKenzie Oslanzi picked up her first win as a Wildcat with a 7-3 win over Bradley.
Kentucky is now 4-0 on the weekend in Memphis and with its win over the Tigers, collected its fourth true road win on the young season as Kentucky knocked off the host Tigers in its second game of the day. The Wildcats hit a season-high four home runs in the 7-1 win as Maddy Anson notched two of them and was joined by Carly Sleeman and Allie Blum with longballs in the contest.
With the wins Saturday, Kentucky is now 11-4 on the season. The Wildcats will close out play in the 2026 Blues City Invitational hosted by Memphis on Sunday at 2 p.m. ET against Indiana State. The game will not be broadcast, but live stats will be available at UKathletics.com.
GAME 1 – KENTUCKY 7, BRADLEY 3
Run Recap
Bradley used three hits including an RBI double down the right-field line in the top of the first to take the early lead over the Wildcats. BRAD 1, UK 0
In the bottom of the second, Allie Blum legged out an infield single to lead off the inning and scored on an RBI double off the bat of Alexa Riddel. Riddel then scored as Maddy Clark looped an RBI single into right center to hand Kentucky the lead. UK 2, BRAD 1
In the bottom of the fourth, a lead-off two-base error put Carly Sleeman at second and she scored on a single by Abby Hammond. UK 3, BRAD 1
The bottom of the fifth brought four runs to the plate for Kentucky. Karissa Hamilton hit a double to the right-center gap to score Emory Donaldson, who singled with one out to get the rally started. Allie Blum then singled into left and Carly Sleeman doubled to score Allie Blum from first. Abby Hammond then singled into left to score Sleeman. UK 7, BRAD 1
Bradley put the final two runs on the board in the seventh inning thanks to a pair of singles and a pair of doubles before Abby Hammond got a strikeout to end the game. FINAL – Kentucky 7, Bradley 3
Key Player
Allie Blum was the key player for Kentucky, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Key Moment
The key moment came in the bottom of the sixth inning as Hammond entered to pitch with the bases loaded for Bradley and one out, and Hammond struck out both batters to end the inning and extinguish the threat for the Braves.
Key Stat
10. Kentucky pitching left 10 Bradley base runners stranded on the base paths in Saturday morning’s game.
Pitching Recap
McKenzie Oslanzi pitched the opening 5.1 innings of the game as she picked up her first-career win as a Kentucky Wildcat on Saturday. Oslanzi allowed only one run, which was earned, and didn’t walk a single batter, while striking out three. Abby Hammond closed out the game’s final 1.2 innings with two runs allowed on four hits with three strikeouts and no walks.
GAME 2 – KENTUCKY 7, MEMPHIS 1
Run Recap
Allie Blum drew first blood for the Wildcats, as she clobbered a two-run home run to left field to put Kentucky ahead in the first two runs of the game. UK 2, MEM 0
Maddy Anson hit the first of her two home runs of the game in the top of the fifth to left-center. UK 3, MEM 0
In the top of the seventh inning, Anson hit her second bomb to straight-away center to make things 4-1 in favor of the Wildcats. Carly Sleeman hit the third Kentucky home run of the game to left center and Allie Blum hammered an RBI base hit through the left side to close out the scoring. FINAL – Kentucky 7, Memphis 1
Key Player
Maddy Anson was the key player going 2-for-4 with a pair of home runs, runs batted in and runs scored in the game.
Key Moment
With a runner in scoring position in the Memphis sixth inning and Kentucky nursing a 3-1 lead at a time, Sarah Haendiges recorded one of her nine strikeouts in the contest to shut down the threat. She then sent the Tigers packing in order in the seventh.
Key Stat
4. Kentucky hit a season-high four homers in the game.
Pitching Recap
Sarah Haendiges pitched her second-straight complete-game in the win. Haendiges struck out nine batters in the game with only four Tigers hits being registered and one run crossing the plate. The senior from Upland, Calif., needed only 106 pitches for the complete game win and threw 68 strikes of those 106 pitches.
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