Autumn Humes Thunders Kentucky Past Georgia, Into SEC Quarters

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Senior pitcher Autumn Humes struck out 10 batters on just 87 pitches Wednesday night as the sixth-seeded Kentucky Softball team shutout Georgia 3-0 to advance into the Southeastern Conference Tournament quarterfinals.
 
Humes picked up her 20th win of the season as she is now the third different pitcher in program history to have at least 20 wins in a single season, joining Kelsey Nunley (2013, 2014, 2016) and Meagan Prince (2016, 2017).
 
With the 3-0 win, UK advances into Thursday night’s SEC Tournament quarterfinals and will play third-seeded Alabama at approximately 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will air live on the SEC Network, ESPN3 and the ESPN app with Beth Mowins and Michele Smith on the call.
 
Humes was nothing short of sensational, throwing a complete-game shutout against the Dawgs. It was a Kentucky pitcher’s first shoutout of a Southeastern Conference opponent since April 22, 2019 vs. Auburn. She went the distance, allowing no runs with two walks and 10 strikeouts against 26 batters faced.
 
Offensively, it was Kayla Kowalik and Erin Coffel that led the charge as both went 2-for-3 at the plate and Coffel tallying the eventual game-winning RBI in the bottom of the first inning. With that RBI, Coffel tied the school record with her 52nd RBI of the season and her 53rd RBI came in the bottom of the fourth inning to break the record.
 
Key Stat
3. Autumn Humes allowed just three Georgia hits Wednesday night.
 
Key Player
Kayla Kowalik was the key player in the game, going 2-for-3 with a run scoring and a double. Kowalik is now hitting .514 on the season and continues to lead the NCAA in batting average.
 
Key Play
The key play of the game was Miranda Stoddard’s home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to left field. It was her eighth home run of the season.
 
Run Recap
In the bottom of the first inning, Kayla Kowalik and Tatum Spangler led off the frame with singles, and Coffel singled into left field to score Kowalik from second with one out. UK 1, UGA 0
 
Three innings later, Renee Abernathy popped out to the shortstop, but Erin Coffel scored on a tag from third after the shortstop’s momentum carried her away from the infield, the throw was up the line and Coffel slid in safe. UK 2, UGA 0
 
Miranda Stoddard led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a towering home run to left field. FINAL – Kentucky 3, Georgia 0
 
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