Early Runs Haunt Kentucky as No. 16 Alabama Takes Rubber Game
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The No. 16 Alabama Crimson Tide used eight runs in the opening two innings to claim the rubber game against No. 19 Kentucky on Sunday afternoon in an Easter Matinee at John Cropp Stadium.
Alexis Osorio threw 176 pitches on Sunday en route to her eighth win of the season to improve to 8-3 on the season in the circle for the Tide. Autumn Humes suffered her fourth loss in the circle for Kentucky, allowing four earned runs in just over an inning of work.
With the loss, Kentucky falls to 20-11 overall on the 2018 campaign and now sits 3-8 in Southeastern Conference play. Alabama moves to 5-4 in SEC play and stands at 24-9 overall this season.
Kentucky will turn the page to focus on two in-state midweek battles this week, as the Wildcats head to Richmond on Tuesday for a battle with Eastern Kentucky before returning home for the “Battle of the Bluegrass” against Louisville on Wednesday night at John Cropp Stadium.
Key Stat
10. The Kentucky offense drew 10 walks against All-American Alexis Osorio on Sunday afternoon, a season high for walks given up by Osorio. Katie Reed, Alex Martens, Jenny Schaper and Erin Rethlake both drew two walks in the game.
Key Play
The key play for Kentucky was a two-out double to the wall in center by Alex Martens in the bottom of the third inning to score Erin Rethlake from first and plate UK’s first run. It was also Kentucky’s first hit of the game.
Key Player
Brooklin Hinz was the key player in the game, going 2-for-4 at the plate with a pair of RBI and two great catches in left field that robbed UA of even more offensive damage.
Run Recap
Kaylee Tow hit a one-out home run to left in the top of the first, and then Caroline Hardy clubbed a two-out RBI double to score Callaway. UA 2, UK 0
Alabama hit around in the second inning, after six of the first seven batters in the inning reached base. The Tide got a three-run home run from Callaway to take an 8-0 lead into the third inning. ALA 8, UK 0
Alex Martens roped an RBI double to the wall in CF to score UK’s first run of the game, and then Brooklin Hinz hit an RBI single back up the box with the bases loaded to score two runs and cut the Alabama lead to five. ALA 8, UK 3
Alabama would score its final run of the game in the top of the sixth on a Bailey Hemphill sac fly to center. FINAL – #16 Alabama 9, #19 Kentucky 3.
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