Vick and Cheek’s Trio or RBI Send Kentucky Past Indiana, 15-2
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The No. 23 Kentucky softball team got a trio of RBI from sophomore Bailey Vick and junior Abbey Cheek en route to a 15-2 win over the Indiana Hoosiers at John Cropp Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
The Wildcats struck for six runs in the first inning, seven in the second inning and two in the third to put 15 runs on the board for the Big Blue – the most runs scored by the Wildcats in a game since 2013.
Kentucky with its second-straight win improves to 17-6 on the season overall. Indiana falls to 4-19. The Wildcats will now kick back into Southeastern Conference play as the SEC Network Series of the Week welcomes the No. 8 LSU Tigers to Lexington.
Saturday will mark the series opener at Noon ET, with Sunday and Monday as the final two days. All three games will be televised with Mark Neely, three-time All-American Amanda Scarbrough and Olympic gold medalist Michele Smith on the call.
Key Stat
15. The 15 runs scored are the most in a single game for Kentucky since March of 2013 when UK scored 18 against North Carolina. The 18 runs scored in a game for UK is a program record.
Key Play
Bailey Vick’s two-RBI single into center was the key play in the game. Vick had three RBI in the game, which set a new career-best mark for her in that category. The two runs scored also tied a season high by Vick, and a career high as well.
Key Player
Grace Baalman was the key player for the Wildcats going the distance in the game and collecting her eighth win of the season in the circle. Baalman allowed two runs, only one earned, walked one and struck out six.
Run Recap
Kentucky got off to a fast start, scoring six runs in the bottom of the first inning. Bailey Vick led off the game with a single, and came around to score on an RBI walk to Alex Martens. Abbey Cheek then hit a two-run single into left to score Katie Reed and Jenny Schaper to make it 3-0. After the bases were walked full again, Katie Reed singled into center to score two more runs. UK 6, IU 0
Seven more runs would cross the plate for the Wildcats in the bottom of the second inning. Abbey Cheek hit an RBI single to left to score a run, and then Lauren Johnson was walked with the bases loaded to bring home the eighth UK run. Katie Reed singled yet again to plate two more runs. UK 13, UK 0
Brooklin Hinz hit a two-run home run, her first of the season, to the deepest part of the ballpark in the bottom of the third to score herself and Mallory Peyton, who doubled with one out prior to the Hinz long ball. UK 15, IU 0
A lead-off single scored for the Hoosiers on a Katie Lacefield double to the wall in CF to score Maddie Westmoreland. UK 15, IU 1
Indiana would scratch back for a second run in the top of the fifth, as the UK defense made it only error of the game with two outs and a runner on third – who came in to score. FINAL – #23 Kentucky 15, Indiana 2
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