Lauren Johnson’s Grand Slam Lifts No. 11 Kentucky Past Samford

HOMEWOOD, Ala. – Junior shortstop Lauren Johnson pummeled a grand slam to straight-away center field in the top of the third inning, as No. 11 Kentucky fought off Samford 7-4 on Friday night to complete day one of the Samford Tournament undefeated.
 
Meghan Schorman got the win in the circle, going five complete innings, allowing just two runs on six hits with three walks and six strikeouts. Grace Baalman went 1.1 innings in relief, allowing just three hits and Miranda Stoddard got her first-career save, getting 0.2 innings pitched with two strikeouts to close the game in the bottom of the seventh.
 
Kentucky with the win improves to 10-2 on the season and continues its best start since 2014 to begin a season.
 
Kayla Kowalik went 4-for-4 in the game with four singles, a run and a stolen base. Bailey Vick reached base safely in all four of her at bats, as she logged two more base hits and scored a run.
 
UK will play Georgia Tech and DePaul on Saturday morning at the second day of the Samford Tournament.
 
Key Stat
4. There were four players for Kentucky that had two or more hits in the game, as Kayla Kowalik had four and Bailey Vick, Alex Martens and Lauren Johnson had two each.
 
Key Play
The key play of the game was Lauren Johnson’s grand slam in the top of the third inning that put Kentucky up 4-0 on the Bulldogs.
 
Key Player
Kayla Kowalik was the key player of the game for Kentucky, going 4-for-4 with four singles and a run scored.
 
Run Recap
Lauren Johnson hit a grand slam in the top of the third inning to give Kentucky a 4-0 lead. UK 4, SAM 0
 
The Wildcats got back-to-back-to-back-to-back hits in the top of the fourth inning as three runs crossed the plate with Kowalik, Vick and Rylea Smith all scoring in the inning. UK 7, SAM 0
 
The Bulldogs got two runs back in the bottom of the fifth inning on a two-run home run. UK 7, SAM 0
 
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Samford scored two more runs in the bottom of the sixth off of two Kentucky errors. UK 7, SAM 0
 
Miranda Stoddard came in with a runner on and one out in the bottom of the seventh to close out the game and got back-to-back strikeouts to close out the game.
 
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