The Kentucky softball team tallied a 9-1 win over Wright State and a 10-0 win over Mississippi Valley State in a mid-week series that served many purposes in the midst of a grueling SEC slate.
The Wildcats easily could have overlooked the two games, sandwiched between a home series against Texas A&M and a three-game set at Ole Miss. Instead, they turned in back-to-back run-rule efforts to keep the momentum going from one conference series to the next.
“It says a lot about our team’s focus,” UK head coach Rachel Lawson said. “We had a certain game plan going into the two games, and each player went out there and did their job and executed what we were trying to do, so it really says a lot about their focus and their ability to keep working towards going deep in the postseason.”
Kentucky had won four of its last five heading into Tuesday’s game, and the focus never wavered.
UK scored 19 runs and allowed 29 base runners in eight total innings at the plate. In the circle, three Wildcat hurlers allowed one run, six hits and notched 12 strikeouts in 10 total innings.
Aside from earning a pair of wins to boost their record to 33-8, Rachel Lawson was happy to see the Wildcats work on improving parts of their game.
“I think we were working on hitting certain pitches, instead of taking them, and I think that was good,” Lawson said. “Each girl knew what her job was, what her role was, and she was able to execute, so that was great. It was also nice to put some players into positions that I believe they are going to play this weekend, which they didn’t get to do last weekend, just to make them a little bit more comfortable.”
Another benefit of the two-game set was getting a number of underclassmen valuable playing experience. In Wednesday’s contest, freshman Breanne Ray launched her first career home run.
“It was awesome,” Ray said about getting the opportunity to play today. “When Coach Lawson told me I was in the lineup, I was extra excited for today. I just wanted to show my team that I had it in me.”
Ray certainly had it in her to lead off the third inning. A shot to right center was the outfielder’s first home run as a Wildcat and just her second career hit.
“I couldn’t stop smiling, to be honest,” Ray said. “I was so happy. Then all my teammates were there to greet me, and they made me feel even better.”
“She is a great hitter and we’re expecting great things from her in the future,” Lawson said. “The fact that she was able to sit on her pitch and drive it over the wall says a lot about how mature she is mentally. I just love how she was able to take advantage of the opportunity.”
The Wildcats, now winners of four in a row and six of their last seven, look to keep the momentum going on the road when they travel to Ole Miss for a three-game set April 11-13.
