Every Tuesday, UK Athletics recognizes outstanding performances for our student-athletes.
These are the honorees for the week ending Sunday, May 22:
Softball: Meagan Aull
With the Wildcats trailing by one run going into its last at-bat, Aull used a 2-2 count and lofted a ball over the right field wall for her 10th homer of the season. The round tripper tied the score at one, setting the stage for UK’s walk-off victory. Aull also made a spectacular snag in center field in UK’s victory over Notre Dame. Aull sprinted approximately 30 yards and corralled the ball over her shoulder as she ran into the wall to rob the Irish of a multi-base hit.
Softball: Samantha DeMartine
Senior Samantha DeMartine paced the Wildcat attack in its 3-0 week at the Ann Arbor, Mich., Regional. DeMartine went 6-for-8 at the plate with four doubles, four RBI and three runs scored on the weekend. She was responsible for the game’s winning hit in the rout of Notre Dame with a two-run single. Against Michigan in the winner’s bracket, DeMartine was 3-for-3 with two doubles in UK’s win. In the clinching victory, DeMartine posted another double and was plucked with a pitch to load the bases in the seventh inning. DeMartine was also tremendous in the field with 18 putouts and an assist in the three games.
Softball: Rachel Riley
The junior right-hander worked 8.0 innings of action in two games and captured a save and a win in two combined victories over Michigan. In the decisive victory over the Wolverines, Riley limited the high-octane offense of Michigan to just one hit. The Wolverines plated an unearned score in the contest. She allowed just four bases runners to reach by way of walk while also registering a team-best five assists in the contest. Riley was called upon in the bottom of the seventh in the first game against the host Michigan team. With UK clinging to a one-run advantage, Riley quickly dispersed of the bottom third of the order by forcing a pop-up to third base before striking out the final two outs to preserve UK’s win.
Softball: Annie Rowlands
UK’s senior left fielder came to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning in the Regional final with the bases loaded with Wildcats. Rowlands’ wasted little time in advancing the Blue and White to the school’s first NCAA Super Regional with one swing of the bat. Rowlands took the first offering she saw and lofted the ball over the out-stretched glove of Michigan’s first baseman to plate pinch runner Macy Allen for the walk-off RBI single. For the weekend, Rowlands recorded a hit in every game and went a combined 3-for-8 with a pair of RBIs and a run scored. Rowlands’ defensive effort was also magnificent which included a pair of diving catches. She registered seven putouts on the weekend in a flawless defensive effort.
