Lawson Wins 500th NCAA Game as Kentucky Wins Coach B Classic
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Rachel Lawson won her 500th game as an NCAA softball coach on Saturday night, as the No. 17 Kentucky Wildcats swept Southern Illinois and Murray State to win the 2019 Coach B Classic and finish the weekend 3-0.
Lawson, who became the first coach in program history to record 400 wins at Kentucky earlier this season, has the Wildcats now at 12-7 overall on the 2019 season as the Southeastern Conference schedule begins next weekend at No. 12 South Carolina.
Senior catcher Jenny Schaper won the first game of the day over Southern Illinois on a walk-off sacrifice fly to straight-away center with one out and the bases loaded to score Mallory Peyton to win the game.
In game two against Murray State, the Wildcats offense kept its foot on the gas petal, scoring seven runs alone in the seventh inning to walk away with a 14-4 win.
Autumn Humes recorded the win in game one, pitching in relief of Grace Baalman in the seventh. Humes also picked up the win in game two – as she started the game and went five innings.
KENTUCKY 6, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 5
Key Stat
1. This was Kentucky’s first walk-off win of 2019.
Key Play
With runners on first and second in the bottom of the seventh – Bailey Vick singled in the infield to load the bases for Schaper.
Key Player
Mallory Peyton was the key player in the game, scoring UK’s third and fourth runs on an RBI double to the wall in left center.
Run Recap
SIU took a 1-0 lead on an RBI single in the top of the first. SIU 1, UK 0
In the bottom of the first, UK scored four times. Abbey Cheek hit into an RBI fielder’s choice with the bases loaded. Alex Martens was hit by a pitch to score a run, which was followed by Peyton’s two-RBI double. UK 4, SIU 1
UK added to its lead on Kelsee Henson’s SAC fly to deep left. UK 5, SIU 1
SIU hit a solo home run in the top of the fifth with one out. UK 5, SIU 2
The Silukis responded with a three-run seventh off a RBI single and a home run. UK 5, SIU 5
The Wildcats won the game in the bottom of the seventh on a walk-off SAC fly by Jenny Schaper. FINAL – Kentucky 6, Southern Illinois 5
KENTUCKY 14, MURRAY STATE 4
Key Stat
14. The 14 runs scored was the most runs scored this season by the UK offense.
Key Play
Kayla Kowalik’s two-RBI triple was the key play in the game, scoring two critical runs for the Wildcats.
Key Player
Lauren Johnson was the key player in the game going 2-for-3 with two singles and a walk in her four plate appearances.
Run Recap
UK took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first on Kelsee Henson’s two-RBI single up the middle. UK 2, MSU 0
A Kentucky throwing error led to two runs for the Racers in the bottom of the first. UK 2, MSU 2
Kayla Kowalik put Kentucky ahead on an RBI triple to the wall in right center. UK 5, MSU 2
Mallory Peyton smacked her team-leading sixth home run to right center to lead off the top of the third. UK 6, MSU 2
The Racers scored a run in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single. UK 6, MSU 3
Alex Martens grounded out into a run that scored Jaci Babbs in the UK fifth inning. UK 7, MSU 3
MSU’s final run came on an RBI single. UK 7, MSU 4
The Wildcats scored seven runs on four hits from Abbey Cheek (HR), Kayla Kowalik (2B), Katie Reed (1B), and Mallory Peyton (2B) in the top of the seventh. FINAL – #17 Kentucky 14, Murray State 4
For the latest on UK Softball, follow the Wildcats on Twitter and Instagram at @UKSoftball.
