Autumn Humes Spins Gem as No. 7 Kentucky Evens Series
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Senior pitcher Autumn Humes was nothing short of spectacular on Sunday afternoon as the No. 7 Kentucky Softball team evened its series with No. 3 Alabama thanks to a 4-2 win over the preseason Southeastern Conference favorite Crimson Tide.
Humes went the distance for the complete game, allowing just two runs on six hits in her seven innings of action. The Bald Knob, Arkansas native struck out five Alabama batters and only one of the two runs that Alabama scored was earned.
With Kentucky evening the series, the Wildcats and Tide will have a rubber match on Monday night at 7 p.m. ET live on the SEC Network, ESPN3 and the ESPN app. Mark Neely and Michele Smith will have the call from John Cropp Stadium with live stats available on UKathletics.com.
Offensively, it was a banner day for the potent Kentucky offense, who registered 10 hits on the day – the most Alabama has allowed in a single game this season. Renee Abernathy and lead-off hitter Kayla Kowalik each registered two hits in the game, with six others logging at least one hit in Sunday’s game.
The win for Kentucky is the second top-five win in the last three weeks, as UK also took down No. 5 Florida in game three of SEC opening weekend. Kentucky improves to 24-4 on the season and is 2-3 in SEC play. Alabama suffers its third loss of the season and is now 26-3 with a 6-2 SEC record.
Key Stat
10. The 10 hits by the Kentucky offense was the most that the potent Alabama pitching staff has allowed all season.
Key Player
Autumn Humes was the key player, getting the W in the circle on a complete game with seven innings pitched, one earned run, six hits allowed and five strikeouts.
Key Play
The key play in the game was Miranda Stoddard’s two-out RBI double to right center to increase the Kentucky lead to 4-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Run Recap
Kayla Kowalik led off the bottom of the first inning with a single, and scored on an Alabama error in the top of the first inning. UK 1, ALA 0
In the third inning, Rylea Smith scored UK’s second run of the game on a sac fly from senior slugger Mallory Peyton. UK 2, ALA 0
In the bottom of the fourth, Autumn Humes led off the inning with a single and scored on a Miranda Stoddard double to right center. A second run crossed on a Kayla Kowalik RBI infield single. UK 4, ALA 0
Alabama got a run back in the fifth on an RIB single by Alexis Mack. UK 4, ALA 1
In the bottom of the seventh, an RBI single by Bailey Hemphill scored Elissa Brown, but a flyout to deep center ended the game and the Alabama threat. FINAL – Kentucky 4, Alabama 2
For the latest on UK Softball, follow the Wildcats on Twitter and Instagram at @UKSoftball.
