Hammond Nearly Flawless in John Cropp Stadium Debut
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Thanks to a one-hit complete game, that was one batter away from being a perfect game from Abby Hammond in her John Cropp Stadium pitching debut, the Kentucky Softball team swept its way to a 2-0 day at the John Cropp Classic, beating Michigan State 6-1 in the opening game of two and then beating Dayton 9-0 in six innings in the nightcap.
In game one, Peyton Plotts went yard for the eighth time this season as part of a difference-making four-run third inning as Kentucky jumped out to a 5-0 lead through three innings on the Spartans and then rode the pitching of McKenzie Oslanzi and Hailey Nutter the rest of the way to the house to put a bow on a 6-1 win over MSU, its second in as many days.
In the second game, Lexington’s own Abby Hammond started her first-career game in the circle for UK and made the most of it, only coming up one batter shy of a perfect game, as Dayton hit a one-out double in the fifth inning to end the perfect game and the no-hitter. Hammond picked up her first-career win in the circle for the Wildcats, throwing all six innings with one walk and four strikeouts and only one Flyer recording a hit.
Kentucky has now won 10 games in a row and will look to make it 11 on Sunday as it closes out play in the John Cropp Classic. UK will play Murray State at 3 p.m. ET Sunday with the game streaming live on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app. Tickets are available at UKathletics.com/tickets.
GAME 1 – KENTUCKY 6, MICHIGAN STATE 1
Run Recap
Karissa Hamilton doubled to the gap in left field in the bottom of the first inning to score Allie Blum and put Kentucky up 1-0 in the early going. UK 1, MSU 0
In the bottom of the third, UK struck for four runs, with two of them coming off the bat of Peyton Plotts in her eighth homer of the season. Karissa Hamilton then doubled and scored and Abby Hammond scored on a bases-loaded walk to Maddy Clark. UK 5, MSU 0
Kentucky tacked on a fifth run in the fifth inning as Maddy Clark singled in Alexa Riddel, who reached on a dropped third strike with two outs and advanced into scoring position on a stolen base. UK 6, MSU 0
MSU scored its first and only run in the sixth inning on three-straight hit. FINAL – Kentucky 6, Michigan St. 1
Key Player
Peyton Plotts went 2-for-3 with one run scored, a home run and a pair of RBI in the game.
Key Moment
In the top of the first inning, MSU led off the inning with a double and then Karissa Hamilton turned a double play to erase the runner and keep the Spartans off the board.
Key Stat
Zero. Kentucky pitching issued zero walks in the game.
Pitching Recap
McKenzie Oslanzi went the first 5.1 innings, allowing only one run with no walks and threw 62 pitches in the game. Hailey Nutter entered in the top of the sixth inning to get the final five outs without issue as she struck out one batter and walked none.
GAME 2 – KENTUCKY 9, DAYTON 0
Run Recap
In the bottom of the first inning, Kentucky struck for seven runs in the frame on six hits. Emory Donaldson and Allie Blum led off the inning with back-to-back triples and a sac fly with the bases loaded by Abby Hammond to make things 2-0. Alexa Riddel then clobbered a double to score two runs and Maddy Anson followed with her first home run at John Cropp Stadium for UK’s seventh run. UK 7, UD 0
In the bottom of the sixth, Allie Blum hit a walk-off two-run home run. FINAL – Kentucky 9, Dayton 0
Key Player
Abby Hammond was the key player in game two as she threw a complete-game shutout and was only one batter shy of a perfect game. She went for four strikeouts in six innings and also had an RBI in the game on a sac fly in her first career start at JCS.
Key Moment
Emory Donaldson had two triples in the same innings as part of a three-triple inning in the first for Kentucky as a team.
Key Stat
- The top four in UK’s order had seven hits in the game with three going for extra bases.
Pitching Recap
Abby Hammond was the key player in game two as she threw a complete-game shutout and was only one batter shy of a perfect game. She went for four strikeouts in six innings and also had an RBI in the game on a sac fly in her first career start at JCS.
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