Kentucky Opens SEC Play at South Carolina on Friday Night
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kentucky’s best start to a
season in program history makes its next stop in Columbia, S.C., over the
weekend as Southeastern Conference play opens up against the Gamecocks in a
three-game series beginning on Friday night. First pitch on Friday is set for 6
p.m. ET, with 1 p.m. ET games on Saturday and Sunday with both weekend games
televised live on the SEC Network with Cara Capuano and Cheri Kempf.
Wednesday night, junior Meagan Prince shined
yet again in the circle for No. 15 Kentucky, taking a perfect game one out deep
into the top of the last inning before an infield single by Indiana’s Kassi
Farmer broke up the bid. However, Kentucky still hung on to beat the Hoosiers
3-1 on Wednesday night in the home opener for UK at John Cropp Stadium.
With the win, Kentucky continues its best
start in program history, closing the night with a 19-3 overall record as
conference play begins on Friday night in the Palmetto State. Prince moves to
9-0 on the season in the circle, just two wins shy of setting a new
single-season wins career high before conference play even begins.
Quick Notes
Kelsey Nunley’s next start in the circle will
be her 100th career start for the Blue and White. She just trails Chanda Bell
(105) and Keary Camunas (158) all-time at Kentucky.
Sylver Samuel became the fourth player in
school history to have 70 stolen bases vs. Indiana.
Kentucky has its best record through 22 games
of a season in school history (19-3).
UK has scored at least five runs in a single
inning eight times this season, already more than the 2015 season (five times).
UK got its second SEC Freshman of the Week
award in the last three weeks on Monday when Abbey Cheek was named as the
winner. She went 7-of-13 on the weekend with a team-high eight RBIs and five
runs scored to help lead UK to the 2016 Winthrop Invitational Championship.
Scouting South Carolina
The Gamecocks are 12-0 at home and 2-1 away.
Of the 554 times they have been at bat, they have connected on 188 pitches,
scoring a total of 132 runs. USC has won 10 straight games.
Two freshmen, Kennedy Clark from Eastvale,
Calif., and Alexis Mack from Brecksville, Ohio, share the title of the leading
hitter with a batting average of .426. Clark has produced 14 runs off of her 26
hits. Clark also leads the team in RBI’s, with a total of 22. Mack has produced
15 runs off of her 26 hits. Sophomore Krystan White has the third highest
batting average on the team with an average of .405. Senior Alaynie Page leads
the team with 21 runs scored.
Weekend Schedule
Venue
Carolina Softball Stadium at Beckham Field
(2013)
1318 Heyward St
Columbia, SC 29208
Weekend Schedule
Friday, March 11 – 6 p.m. ET – No. 15 Kentucky
at South Carolina – SEC Network+ – Live Stats
Saturday, March 12 – 1 p.m. ET – No. 15
Kentucky at South Carolina – SEC Network – Live Stats
Sunday, March 13 – 1 p.m. ET – No. 15 Kentucky
at South Carolina – SEC Network – Live Stats
SEC Network
Cara Capuano and Cheri Kempf will have the
call for the SEC Network national telecasts on Saturday and Sunday afternoon.
For the latest on the Kentucky softball team, follow @UKSoftball on Twitter, Instagram
and Facebook, as well as on the web at UKathletics.com.
