Smith Doubles, Comeback Comes Up Short vs. No. 2 Alabama
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Rylea Smith had an RBI double in the bottom of the fourth inning to claw the No. 7 Kentucky Softball team back into the game, but the No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide responded with five runs in the top of the seventh inning to hold off UK, 11-6 on Saturday afternoon.
In a sunshine-soaked day, Alabama raced out to a 6-0 lead before the Wildcats put up a four spot in the bottom of the fifth inning to make things closer. Smith’s RBI double scored pinch runner Erica Thulen and a throwing error plated two more runs including Smith in the inning.
Alabama then scored five runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a seven-run lead into the final frame, where UK would chew into the lead with a lead-off triple by Kayla Kowalik and RBI single by Mallory Peyton, but it wasn’t enough.
Alabama is now 26-2 on the year and 6-1 in the Southeastern Conference. UK falls to 23-4, 1-3 SEC.
Game two of the series will be on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The game at John Cropp Stadium has limited berm seating available on UKathletics.com/tickets. Live stats are available on UKathletics.com.
Key Stat
0-2. Junior pitcher Tatum Spangler had a solid start in the circle on Saturday for Kentucky, allowing no walks and striking out two of the 11 Tide hitters she faced.
Key Player
Miranda Stoddard was the key player in the game going 1-for-2 at the plate with a single, and throwing 2.2 innings in the circle.
Key Play
The key play in the game for Kentucky came in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Rylea Smith doubled to left center to score Thulen and get UK back into the contest.
Run Recap
Alabama scored three runs on three hits and an error in the top of the third inning. ALA 3, UK 0
The Tide doubled its lead to 6-0 on a Bailey Hemphill home run in the top of the fifth. ALA 6, UK 0
After Stoddard led off the fifth with a walk, Spangler singled, and Smith doubled to left to score Stoddard. A throwing error by Alabama helped UK score three more and UK was back in the game. ALA 6, UK 4
In the top of the seventh, the middle of the Tide order did damage, scoring five runs on four hits. ALA 11, UK 4
A lead-off Kayla Kowalik triple and Lauren Johnson reaching on a throwing error resulted in two runs for Kentucky in the seventh. FINAL – Alabama 11, Kentucky 6
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