Every Tuesday, UK Athletics recognizes outstanding performances for our student-athletes.
These are the honorees for the week ending Sunday, Mar. 27:
Softball: Chanda Bell
Junior pitcher Chanda Bell threw the first no-hitter in SEC action in school history with a complete-game shutout over Mississippi State in the series-clincher. Bell narrowly missed out on a perfect game when the lone base runner reached on a Wildcat fielding error. Bell, however, quickly escaped the inning without further damage by striking out the side to record 11 strikeouts in 15 total outs in the game. It marked the 29th time in her career she registered 10 or more strikeouts in a single game. Bell recorded the first-ever no-hitter in her freshman season at UK. She had another earlier this season in non-conference action, but the no-no against the Bulldogs was the first in SEC play in school allure. Furthermore, Bell picked up her 45th career victory to move into second place on UK’s all-time career list in that category. Her .095 opponent batting average in SEC action is tops in the league, and she ranks second in strikeouts tossed against league foes.
Softball: Lauren Cumbess
Freshman Lauren Cumbess was simply sensational in helping guide the Wildcats to a series sweep of Mississippi State for the second time in three seasons, batting .600 in those three outings. Cumbess had two game-clinching hits for the Blue and White in two decisive victories. In the opening game of the series, Cumbess connected for a three-run homer in the third inning to give the Wildcats a lead it would never relinquish. It was the first round tripper in SEC action for UK’s freshman, and it marked one of a program-record four homers in the game. The three-RBI is a single-game high for the first-year player. In game two of the series, Cumbess had a bases-clearing double in the first inning to highlight a six-run first frame to put the game out of reach in the opening stanza in the series-clincher. In the final game of the series, Cumbess came to the plate in two situations with runners aboard and Mississippi State opted to walk her in both instances. Her .429 batting average for the week ranked second on the team, only trailing Megan Yocke’s week. The five-RBI tied a team-high and she was one of five players to connect for a homer on the weekend.
Softball: Megan Yocke
Senior Megan Yocke led the Wildcats to their first three-game sweep in league action this season. Yocke paced the squad with a .556 batting average and five runs scored. Yocke made her presence felt at the plate all weekend which began with a solo homer in the opening game of the series, one of four Wildcat long balls. The four homers in a single game are the most in school history. Yocke scored twice in the 8-0 series-winner when she was walked twice in the game. Prior to leaving the game with an injury in the third game of the series, Yocke registered her first triple of the season and would come home to score. Yocke set several milestones this week as she moved into five all-time in both runs scored (115) and home runs (22). She also became UK’s all-time career leader with 102 walks. She also took over the No. 2 spot with 1,074 career put outs.
