Prince Sets Strikeout Career High, Reed Breaks Hit Streak Record as Kentucky Wins Frost Classic

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Junior Meagan Prince recorded a new career-high 12 strikeouts in a 7-1 win over Evansville on Sunday to close out the 2016 Chattanooga Frost Classic, as the No. 17 Kentucky softball team moved to 14-2 on the season and were crowned champions of the tournament. 

Prince went the distance for the third time this season, pitching 7.0 innings allowing just one run on four hits, while walking four and striking out a career-high 12 batters. The junior is now 6-0 on the season and boasts a 2.42 ERA in her seven appearances in the circle this season. 

Freshman Katie Reed continued her hot hitting start to the season, as the St. Louis, Mo., native broke the school record – and has now registered a 16-game hitting streak to start the season – the longest hitting streak in Kentucky softball history. The previous high was 15 games set by Kara Dill in 2013. Reed is batting .520 on the season with 26 hits, 18 runs scored, 12 RBI and today went 2-for-4 with an RBI-single, and an RBI-triple – the first of her young career.

Kentucky won the Frost Classic by sweeping the field, picking up wins on the weekend over Lipscomb, Miami (OH), Eastern Illinois, Chattanooga and Evansville. 

UK will play in the Winthrop Invitational next weekend in Rock Hill, S.C., beginning on Friday beginning with a doubleheader with Albany and Lehigh at 11 a.m. ET and 1 p.m. ET. 

Key Stat

12. Pitcher Meagan Prince recorded a new career-high 12 strikeouts on Sunday afternoon, becoming the third UK pitcher to record a new career high in strikeouts on the weekend. On Friday, Erin Rethlake recorded a new career-high 14 strikeouts – and on Saturday night – Kelsey Nunley struck out 12 Chattanooga Mocs to set a new career high. 

Key Play

In the top of the first inning, freshman Katie Reed singled to the left side of the infield, scoring lead-off batter Maisie Steed to put Kentucky up 1-0 in the game. The hit broke the school record of 16 straight games with a hit, breaking Kara Dill’s prior record of 15 games in a row set back in 2012. 

Key Player

Sylver Samuel went 2-for-3 on the day with a run scored, an RBI and three stolen bases – tying her previous career high for a single game set back in 2013. Samuel had five hits in the tournament this weekend, and was a perfect 5-for-5 when attempting to steal bases this weekend. 

Run Recap

After a lead-off infield single by Maisie Steed and a SAC bunt by Samuel, Katie Reed delivered with an RBI single to the left side to score Steed from second and put UK up 1-0. Abbey Cheek then pummeled a ball to left to score Reed and put UK up 2-0 after the top of the first. UK 2, EU 0

In the third inning, Sylver Samuel got things moving with a single to center and stole second base and third base to put a runner on third with one out for Reed. Reed tripled to the gap in leftcenter field, and a throwing error allowed her to score and make it 4-0. UK 4, EU 0

Kentucky would play add-on in the top of the fifth inning after a lead-off single to the right side by Christian Stokes got the rally going for the offense. A Steed SAC bunt moved Stokes to second and scored on a single by pinch hitter Kelsee Henson. UK 5, EU 0

Evansville’s only run of the game came off a home run by Courtney Land to left field in the bottom of the fifth inning. UK 4, EU 1

UK would score two more runs in the top of the sixth inning after Breanne Ray was able to get on base with an E5 to get the rally going. A Rachael Metzger double moved pinch runner Hannah Huffman to third, and they were both brought in with a two-RBI double from Stokes. FINAL – No. 17 Kentucky 7, Evansville 1

For the latest on the Kentucky softball team, follow @UKSoftball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, as well as on the web at UKathletics.com.