Vick’s Three Hits, Rethake’s Complete Game Sends UK to Run-Rule Win
SAN DIEGO – Sophomore outfielder Bailey Vick continued her torrid start to the 2018 season on Friday night, going 4-for-5 at the plate with four singles and an RBI, as part of Kentucky’s 10-2 run-rule win over Cal State Fullerton in the second day of the Campbell/Cartier Classic.
Vick, the West Paducah, Kentucky native is now hitting a blistering .765 on the season, and this weekend alone is 7-for-8 with seven base hits, two RBI and a pair of runs scored. All of those numbers are the best of any five-game stretch in her young Kentucky career.
Friday marked UK’s first run-rule win of the season, as the Wildcats scored in double figures for the second time this season. UK scored two runs in the top of the first and third innings – and then exploded for a five-run fifth inning in which UK batted around, sending nine batters to the plate.
Kentucky only had one extra-base hit all game, scoring its 10 runs on 12 singles – and a home run from junior catcher Jenny Schaper in the third inning. The home run came with one out and Katie Reed on first after Reed hit a one-out single up the box.
With Friday’s win, UK moves to 3-2 on the season and has now won three games in a row dating back to last Sunday’s 10-2 win over New Mexico State in Las Cruces. Kentucky will finish out the Campbell/Cartier Classic on Saturday afternoon with two games. UK will face 2017 Norman Regional participants North Dakota State at 6:30 p.m. ET followed by a second game against Cal State Fullerton around 9 p.m. ET.
Key Stat
40. Kentucky has scored 40 runs through the first five games of the 2018 season. That is the most runs scored through five games of any season in program history.
Key Play
Jenny Schaper’s two-run home run was the key play in Friday night’s game. Schaper took a 1-1 pitch over the wall in right center field for her second home run of the season to extend a 2-1 Kentucky lead into a 4-1 lead, giving UK a three-run cushion.
Key Player
Erin Rethlake was the key player in the game, going the distance in the circle for the second time in as many starts. The Huntington, Indiana native needed less than 100 pitches to get through the game, allowing only one earned runs on three hits, walking four and striking out five – including striking out the side in the third.
Run Recap
Kentucky got on the board in the top of the first. Bailey Vick and Erin Rethlake led off the game with back-to-back singles and were brought home on two-out RBI singles from Jenny Schaper and Abbey Cheek. UK 2, CSF 1
Cal State Fullerton got on the board in the bottom of the first as a lead-off walk came around to score on a throwing error by the UK defense. UK 2, CSF 1
Jenny Schaper tripled the UK lead in the third inning, depositing her second HR of the season over the fence in right center with Katie Reed aboard. UK 4, CSF 1
The Titans would then respond with a run of their own after a lead-off walk was again scored after a defensive miscue by the Wildcats. UK 5, CSF 2
In the fourth inning, Lauren Johnson led off the inning with a frozen-rope single up the middle and came around to score on a throwing error by the catcher. UK 5, CSF 2
In the fifth inning, the bats were flying for the Wildcats as UK scored five runs on four hits. UK loaded the bases with one out for Lauren Johnson, who hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Abbey Cheek from third. Mallory Peyton then plated Alex Martens from second on a single, followed by Vick’s RBI single to score pinch-runner Kelsee Henson. Erin Rethlake then broke open the game, with a two-RBI single scoring Peyton and Vick for the fourth and fifth runs of the inning. FINAL – #25 Kentucky 10, Cal State Fullerton 2 (5 innings)
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