Feb. 22, 2014
UK-Kent State Box Score | UK-Michigan Box Score
BOCA RATON, Fla. – The No. 5/6 University of Kentucky softball team could not get the offense going in day two of the FAU Invitational, falling to Kent State, 3-0, and No. 5/7 Michigan, 3-0, at the FAU Softball Stadium on Saturday.
The losses were the first of the season for UK, which entered play Saturday with the longest winning streak in school history. The 12-game winning streak was also the best start in school history for Kentucky, crushing the previous record of 3-0. The Wildcats had three wins vs. ranked foes during the winning streak, including a win over defending national champions Oklahoma. UK also posted two wins over 2013 Women’s College World Series participant Texas. Kentucky is now 3-1 vs. ranked foes this season.
Kentucky (12-2) concludes the round-robin event Sunday with a 9 a.m. ET battle vs. Penn State. Kentucky and Penn State met on Friday with the Wildcats claiming a 5-0 win. Live stats from the game will be available on UKathletics.com.
Sophomore pitcher Kelsey Nunley carried the load in the circle for Kentucky, throwing the final four innings vs. Kent State and all seven innings against Michigan. The native of Soddy Daisy, Tenn., picked up a no decision vs. the Golden Flashes allowing one run on four hits with three strikeouts, while she received the loss against highly ranked Michigan, throwing seven innings allowing three earned runs on nine hits with six strikeouts. Freshman pitcher Shannon Smith got the loss vs. Kent State allowing two runs on three hits. Nunley is now 5-1 on the year, while Smith is 2-1.
Offensively, UK could not find its swing at the plate, posting three hits on the day. Sophomore infielder Nikki Sagermann went 1-for-3 vs. Kent State to record the Wildcats’ lone hit, while senior outfielder Emily Gaines and sophomore outfielder Sylver Samuel each had hits against Michigan.
Kent State’s Emma Johnson got the win in game one, throwing seven scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts and one hit allowed, while Michigan’s Haylie Wagner got the win in game two, tossing seven scoreless innings with five strikeouts and two hits allowed.
Offensively, the Golden Flashes got multiple-hit games from Kim Kirkpatrick and Shelbi Tilton with Tilton posting two RBI. The Wolverine offense was paced by multiple-hit games from Lyndsay Doyle, Sierra Romero and Caitlin Blanchard, while Sierra Lawrence had a hit and two RBI.
For the latest on UK softball, follow “@UKSoftball” on Twitter and Instagram or like Kentucky Softball on Facebook.
Schedule/Results:
Friday, Feb. 21
Kentucky def. Penn State 5-0
Kentucky def. FAU 7-1
Saturday, Feb. 22
Kent State def. Kentucky 3-0
Michigan def. Kentucky 3-0
Sunday, Feb. 23
Kentucky vs. Penn St – 9 a.m. ET
