Metzger Homers Twice in Series-Evening Loss to No. 16 UGA

ATHENS, Ga. – Junior infielder Rachael Metzger homered twice, but the No. 17 Kentucky softball team fell victim to a first-inning grand slam and 13 hits from the Georgia offense as the Bulldogs evened the series with a 7-5 win over Kentucky. 

The 13 hits were the most allowed by all season by the Kentucky pitching staff, as the Bulldogs hit two home runs, including a grand slam in the bottom of the first inning from Lacey Sumerlin, who went 2-for-3 in the game with four RBI and two runs scored. 

Katie Reed homered in the top of the first inning for her first long ball all season, and Metzger homered twice as there were five home runs hit in the game. 

Shannon Smith suffered her second loss of the season to fall to 5-2. Georgia’s Kylie Bass earned her fifth win of the season to move to 5-0 on the season. 

The three-game set will conclude on Monday night at 7 p.m. ET from Jack Turner Stadium in Athens. The game will be shown live on the SEC Network, ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app with Mark Neely and Women’s College World Series analysts Michele Smith and Amanda Scarbrough on the call. 

13. The 13 hits by Georgia offense were the most hits allowed in a single game since the Wildcats allowed 14 hits on April 18 in a 7-6 loss to South Carolina. 

Lacey Sumerlin’s grand slam in the bottom of the first inning was the key play in the game. 

Rachael Metzger was the key player in the game for Kentucky, hitting two home runs in the game for the second time in as many weekends – as she also homered twice in a win over Drexel in the John Cropp Classic.

Katie Reed hit her first home run in over a calendar year in the top of the first inning off the scoreboard to give UK an early 1-0 lead. UK 1, UGA 0

After the Bulldogs loaded the bases with two singles and a walk and not an out in the inning – Lacey Sumerlin homered over the scoreboard in left field for her second grand slam of the season. UGA 4, UK 1

Kentucky got a run back in the top of the third inning as Abbey Cheek scored on a Bulldog throwing error. Cheek singled and got to second thanks to a hit by Martens – and then came around to score on the throwing error across the diamond. UGA 4, UK 2

Georgia scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning as Maeve McGuire homered with a runner aboard after a two-out walk began the Bulldog rally. UGA 6, UK 2

The Wildcats again chopped into the UGA lead in the fourth inning as Rachael Metzger hit the first of her two home runs to straight-away center. UGA 6, UK 3

Sumerlin led off the Georgia fifth with a stand-up double and then came around to score on an RBI single from Brea Dickey after Sumerlin went to third on a fielder’s choice. UGA 7, UK 3

After Brooklin Hinz led off the UK sixth with a single into left – Metzger homered to left center for her second of the night. FINAL – No. 16 Georgia 7, No. 17 Kentucky 5

For the latest on the Kentucky softball team, follow @UKSoftball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, as well as on the web at UKathletics.com.