Moore’s First-Career Bomb Guides No. 20 UK to Win Over UCF
Pitt Box Score (PDF) | UCF Box Score (PDF)
ORLANDO, Fla. – Freshman sluggerKierston Moore powered a three-run home run over the wall in deep center in thetop of the third inning, which guided the No. 20 Kentucky softball team to a6-3 win over the University of Central Knights on Saturday.
Moore went 2-for-2 in the game, belting the three-run bomb in addition to a lead-off single in the top of the sixth inning –in which Sarah Rainwater, who entered the game to pinch run – came around to score.
Meagan Prince faced all but two batters in thegame, working 7.0 innings on just 109 pitches, allowing three runs, all earned,four hits, three walks and seven strikeouts. The result for Prince is her firstof the season, as she improves to 1-1 on the season.
Earlier in the day, the Pitt Panthers defeatedKentucky, 6-3 – as Pitt came from behind early to knock off the Wildcats in thefirst game of Kentucky’s two on Saturday afternoon.
The final day of the UCF Knights Invitationalwill be Sunday, as Kentucky will play the Florida A&M Rattlers at 9:30 a.m.ET. Kentucky defeated FAMU on Friday morning, 4-2, on an Alex Martens walk-offhome run in the bottom of the seventh inning after entering the frame
GAME 1 – Pittsburgh
Key Stat
Nine. The Wildcats left nine baserunners onbase, with five of those being in scoring position at the time that they werestranded.
Key Play
Giorgiana Zeremenko, Pitt’s catcher, had atwo-run single in the four-run Pitt fourth inning that broke open the inningfor the Panthers. Pitt had six-consecutive batters reach base spanning two UKpitchers during that stretch.
Key Player
Abbey Cheek was UK’s key player in the game, blastinga two-run home run off the foul pole down the right field line to give UK a 2-1lead at the time. It was her first HR of the season.
Run Recap
Pitt’s Kaitlin Manuel hit a home run to leftfield in the bottom of the second inning to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead. Pitt1, UK 0
After a lead-off single by Katie Reed – to extendher hit streak to four games – Abbey Cheek belted a home run off the foul polein right to give UK its first lead of the game. UK 2, PITT 1
The Panthers tied the score at 2-2 in thebottom of the third inning after lead-off batter Erin Herschman came around toscore after she was given a free base off an error. PITT 2, UK 2
The Panthers put up a four spot in the bottomof the fourth, sending nine batters to the plate, and having two RBI hits inaddition to a walked-in run. PITT 6, UK 2
Sophomore catcher Jenny Schaper belted hersecond home run in as many days over the left center field fence with two outsand nobody on. FINAL – Pittsburgh 6, No. 20 Kentucky 3
GAME 2- Central Florida
Key Stat
11. Kentucky managed a season-high 11 hits onSaturday afternoon against UCF pitching, with Alex Martens, Abbey Cheek,Kierston Moore and Breanne Ray all recording two-hit games.
Key Play
Kierston Moore’s three-run shot in the top ofthe fourth inning was the game’s crucial play.
Key Player
Jenny Schaper was the key player in the game,catching the final inning and making the game-ending play on a passed thirdstrike to the backstop – picking up the ball and diving on the plate for theforce out with the bases loaded to end the game.
Run Recap
Kentucky scored first through Abbey Cheek inthe top of the second inning. Cheek led off the inning with a hit, and wasbrought around on a SAC fly by Kelsee Henson – her first RBI of the season. UK1, UCF 0
UCF would tie the game in the bottom half ofthe frame thanks to some Kentucky defensive micsues, as Willow Kalinen scoredfrom first on an infield hit. UK 1, UCF 1
After Breanne Ray and Rachael Metzger led offthe top of the fourth inning with back-to-back singles, Kierston Moore belted ahomer to left center to give UK three-run cushion. UK 4, UCF 1
Kentucky would add to its lead and make it 5-1when Kierston Moore led off the inning with a single through the left side andwas pinch ran for by Sarah Rainwater. Alex Martens’ RBI double brought aroundthe run and UK took a 5-1 lead. UK 5, UCF 1
The Knights would get that run right back inthe bottom of the sixth, as DP Courtney Rotton launched a one-out solo HR toleft. UK 5, UCF 2
Kentucky’s Abbey Cheek singled to start theseventh inning. After a walk to Breanne Ray and a sacrifice bunt by Metzger –Cheek scored on Henson’s second SAC fly of the game. UK 6, UCF 2
The seventh inning got interesting for UK.Meagan Prince walked the first batter and then threw two balls to the nextbatter. Larissa Spellman came in and walked the bases loaded before a runscored on a SAC fly after Prince re-entered. A HBP re-loaded the bases beforePrince got a grounder to third and a strikeout to end the inning. The thirdstrike went to the backstop and bounced back to Schaper behind the dish – who thentagged home on a dive to get the force out. FINAL – No. 20 Kentucky 6, UCF 3
For the latest on the Kentucky softball team, follow @UKSoftball on Twitter, Instagramand Facebook, as well as on the web at UKathletics.com.
