Metzger and Rainwater Double to Push UK Past Northern Kentucky

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – In a tight midweek affair, the No. 16 Kentucky softball team eked out a 2-1 road win on Wednesday afternoon, scoring the game-winning run in the top of the seventh to down the Northern Kentucky Norse in front of over 300 people at Grein Stadium. 

With the game tied 1-1 in the top of the seventh inning, Rachael Metzger led off the inning with a double off the wall in left field, which would turn out to be the game-winning run in the form of pinch runner Brynlee Bigelow. Bigelow scored on a double by Sarah Rainwater with one out to score the winning run. 

Meagan Prince, who threw the final 1.1 innings of work, earned her 10th win of the season in the circle to move to 10-3. Prince allowed just one hit and strike out one of the five batters she faced. Larissa Spellman started the game and lasted 3.1 innings, allowing one run – and Erin Rethlake was spectacular in relief with 2.1 innings of work on two hits and three strikeouts. 

Kentucky with the win improves to 23-6 overall on the season. The Wildcats are next in action on Friday night to kick off a three-game series with the Ole Miss Rebels in Oxford, Mississippi. Friday night’s game will be live on the SEC Network+ with Saturday (ESPNU) and Sunday’s (SEC Network) games shown live on national television with Trey Bender and Leigh Dakich on the call. 

Two. Bailey Vick had two hits in the game – the only Wildcat with a multi-hit game. 

Sarah Rainwater’s double in the top of the seventh was the key play in the game, as it scored the game-winning run in the form of Brynlee Bigelow from third. 

Rachael Metzger was the key player in the game, leading off the top of the seventh with a double, which would be the game-winning run. 

NKU struck first in the bottom of the second inning on an Ava Lawson RBI single up the middle to score Zahrya McFarland, who led off the inning with a walk. NKU 1, UK 0

Kentucky would tie the game in the top of the fifth inning, as Jenny Schaper would score. Schaper led off the inning with a single, and was sacrificed over to move to third with one out for Rainwater. Rainwater then lifted a SAC fly to right to score Schaper and tie the game. UK 1, NKU 1

Kentucky won the game in the top of the seventh when Rachael Metzger led off the inning with a double off the wall in left field, which would turn out to be the game-winning run in the form of pinch runner Brynlee Bigelow. Bigelow scored on a double by Sarah Rainwater with one out to score the winning run. FINAL – No. 16 Kentucky 2, Northern Kentucky 1

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