Spangler Pitches UK Softball to Best Start in Program History

CLERMONT, Fla. – The Kentucky Softball team is off to its best start in program history at 13-0, after winning games against Stetson and New Mexico State on day two of the 2021 Spring Games at Legend’s Way Ballfields in Clermont, Florida.
 
In Kentucky’s 7-0 win over Stetson, the Wildcats got a spectacular combined complete-game shutout from Tatum Spangler and Grace Baalman, who together threw seven innings and carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning. Spangler went 6.0 innings, allowing no runs on one hit and struck out six.
 
To cap off the night, Kentucky got a walk-off home run from Kayla Kowalik in the bottom of the fifth inning to run rule New Mexico State 10-1 in five to complete a 13-0 start to the season, and tie the best start in program history.
 
UK’s time at THE Spring Games ends on Sunday with a 12:30 p.m. ET rematch against Stetson. The game can be seen live on FLOsoftball with a proper subscription, and live stats will be free on UKathletics.com.
 
Game 1 – Kentucky 7, Stetson 0
Key Stat
2. Tatum Spangler was just two outs away from a no-hitter before it was broken up in the bottom of the seventh. But it didn’t take away from one of her career-best outings in the circle with 6.0 innings pitched and one walk opposed to six K’s.
 
Key Player
The key player in the game was Kayla Kowalik who went 2-for-3 at the plate with two singles, two runs scored and a walk.
 
Key Play
The key play in the game was Erin Coffel’s RBI double to the wall in right center to put UK up 4-0 in the top of the third inning.
 
Run Recap
Mallory Peyton had a sac fly and Renee Abernathy had a two-out RBI double to score two early runs for the Wildcats in the top of the first. UK 2, SU 0
 
In the top of the third, Coffel played Kowalik on a double and scored herself on a bases-loaded walk. Abernathy then scored on a Stetson error. UK 6, SU 0
 
UK’s final run was scored on a sac fly from Tatum Spangler to score Abernathy. FINAL – Kentucky 7, Stetson 0
 
Game 1 – Kentucky 10, New Mexico State 1
Key Stat
13. The win was Kentucky’s 13th on the season, marking the best start in program history.
 
Key Player
The key player in the game was Rylea Smith who went 3-for-3 with two runs scored.  
 
Key Play
The key play in the game was Lauren Johnson gunning down a would-be run-scorer on a first-and-third play to keep the Aggies off the scoreboard in the top of the third inning.
 
Run Recap
Mallory Peyton roped an RBI double to the left-center gap to score the opening run of the game for UK. UK 1, NMSU 0
 
In the bottom of the second, the Aggies made an error and walked in a run as Kentucky grabbed a hold of the game to make it 4-0. UK 4, NMSU 0
 
NMSU got its lone run of the game in the top of the fourth inning on an RBU single. UK 4, NMSU 1
 
Kentucky scored six times in the bottom of the fifth inning, punctuated by a Kayla Kowalik walk-off home run to enact the run rule. FINAL – Kentucky 10, New Mexico State 1
 
For the latest on UK Softball, follow the Wildcats on Twitter and Instagram at @UKSoftball.