Stokes’ 2-for-3 Night Not Enough to Fend Off Ole Miss
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The No. 13 Kentucky
softball dropped its first Southeastern Conference game of the season on Friday
night a John Cropp Stadium, suffering a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the Ole Miss
Rebels and the hands of senior pitcher Madi Osias, who threw a complete game
four-hitter against the Wildcat offense.
With the loss, Kentucky moves to 23-4 overall
on the season, and 3-1 in the SEC. Ole Miss with the win notches its 24th
win of the season to move to 24-5 on the year with a 2-2 conference record
through four games. Osias gets the win for Ole Miss to move to 13-1 on the
year, while Kentucky’s Kelsey Nunley falls to 10-2, suffering just her second
defeat of the year.
The difference maker came in the top of the
fourth inning when Rebel catcher Courtney Syrett stepped to the plate with
runners on the corners and two outs and hit a three-run homer to left center to
give Ole Miss the 3-0 lead halfway through the contest.
The two teams will play the second game of the
three-game set on Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET from John Cropp Stadium in Lexington.
The game will be shown live on the SEC Network+ with Mark Buerger and Carol
Bruggeman on the call.
Fans are advised to check UKathletics.com and
@UKSoftball on Twitter for updates with the game, as there is expected weather
that will be entering the Lexington area on Saturday.
Key Stat
Four. The four hits by the Kentucky offense
was its lowest hitting output of the season through 27 games this season.
Key Play
The key play in the game was the three-run
home run after a Kentucky miscue in the field and a walk all coming with two
outs to put runners on the corners for Courtney Syrett, who launched a home run
to left center to put the Rebels up, 3-0.
Key Player
Christian Stokes was the key offensive player
for Kentucky on Friday night, going 2-for-3 at the plate, accounting for 50
percent of the Kentucky hits. Stokes drove in Kentucky’s only run of the night,
scoring Abbey Cheek from second on a base hit up the middle.
Run Recap
After a Kentucky defensive miscue with two
outs put a Rebel baserunner on third and then the only walk of the night issued
by Kelsey Nunley, Courtney Syrett launched a home run to center to make it 3-0
Ole Miss and put Kentucky behind in a game for just the fifth time this season.
OM 3, UK 0
Abbey Cheek accounted for UK’s only run of the
night, getting a fourth inning rally started in the bottom in the inning with a
HBP. Brooklin Hinz moved Cheek to second on a base hit to give UK two
baserunners for Christian Stokes. Stokes then singled back up the middle to
score Cheek and a failed SAC fly attempt by UK would end the inning as the
Wildcats were thrown out at home. FINAL – Ole Miss 3, No. 13 Kentucky 1
