Abbey Cheek’s Three RBI, Reed’s Home Run Overpowers Syracuse
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The No. 15 Kentucky softball team exploded for 13 runs on 12 hits in a run-rule win over Syracuse on Wednesday afternoon at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington. The Wildcats won their season-high eighth game in a row, beating the Orange, 13-0.
The Wildcats scored five runs in two separate innings, the first and the third. Kentucky’s offense has now scored 22 runs over its last two games, and has scored 10-plus runs in three of its last four games this season.
Larissa Spellman earned the win in the circle, as she improves to 2-0 on the season. The Butler, N.J., native went 3.0 innings, allowing no runs on four hits, allowing no walks and striking out three. Grace Baalman started the game for UK, going 2.0 innings without surrendering a run and striking out three.
Kentucky improves to 17-7 overall on the season and is still 3-0 in Southeastern Conference play this year. The Orange fall to 8-14 overall and will begin Atlantic Coast Conference play this weekend at Louisville. UK dips back into SEC play on Friday night at 6 p.m. ET against Mississippi State. The game will be shown live on the SEC Network+ with Dick Gabriel and Carol Bruggeman on the call from Lexington.
Key Stat
13. With 13 runs scored, Kentucky has now scored 10 or more runs in eight games this season, and the Wildcats are 8-0 in all of those games.
8. Wednesday marked the eighth run-rule win of the season for Kentucky.
Key Play
Briona Rance and Olivia Ward both recorded their first-career hits on Wednesday.
Key Player
Katie Reed was the key player, going 2-for-3 with three RBI and a home run. Reed hit a two-run double in the bottom of the first to left field and then added on a home run – her third of the season – to the Wildcats total in the bottom of the third.
Run Recap
Abbey Cheek, who went 3-for-3 in the game, singled in the bottom of the first inning to score Jenny Schaper. Katie Reed then doubled to left field to score two runs and both Grace Baalman and Bailey Vick were walked with the bases loaded to bring in two more. UK 5, SYR 0
In the bottom of the second, Abbey Cheek led off the inning with a single and came around to score on a Mallory Peyton RBI double. A Syracuse error led to a second run, as Grace Baalman beat out a throw to first, allowing Peyton to score from third. UK 7, SYR 0
It was another five-run inning for the Wildcats in the bottom of the third. Lauren Johnson, Jenny Schaper and Kayla Kowalik all doubled as the first three batters in the inning. Abbey Cheek brought in two on an RBI single, her second of the day. Mallory Peyton brought in Abbey Cheek from third on a SAC fly to left and Katie Reed ended the inning with her third home run of the season. UK 12, SYR 0
After Briona Rance and Olivia Ward both singled for the first time in their UK career to lead off the bottom of the fourth, Kayla Kowalik scored pinch runner Jaci Babbs from third on a groundout to the right side. FINAL – #15 Kentucky 13, Syracuse 0
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