Sullivan’s Pitching and Ebbs’ HR Beat No. 11 Arkansas on Sunday
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Kennedy Sullivan pitched a complete game and Taylor Ebbs clubbed her fifth home run of the season Sunday afternoon as No. 20 Kentucky picked up a critical 3-1 win over No. 11 Arkansas in the series finale to salvage a game from the weekend series.
Sullivan went the distance against one of the best offenses in the country, allowing just six hits, one run, no walks and striking out two batters in the frame. She threw 82 pitched in the game with 52 recorded for strikes as she picked up her third win of the season in the circle for the Wildcats.
Taylor Ebbs hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning to give UK the 2-0 lead as her fifth longball of the season saw Kentucky score first for the first time in the last five Southeastern Conference games. Ebbs’ homer came after Erin Coffel led off the inning with a single through the left side and Kayla Kowalik reaching on a fielder’s choice. The homer was to left field, hitting the netting of the John Cropp Stadium videoboard.
With Sunday’s result, Kentucky stops its season-long six-game Southeastern Conference losing streak and improves to 8-10 in SEC play this season while moving to 27-15-1 overall. Arkansas drops to 34-13 in 2023 and sits 11-7 at four games over the .500 mark in league play.
Kentucky will play its final midweek of the season Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. ET against Eastern Kentucky from John Cropp Stadium with the game broadcasted live on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app. Tickets are available at UKathletics.com.
Key Play
Taylor Ebbs’ homer was the key play in Sunday’s win.
Key Player
Kennedy Sullivan was the key player, earning the win in the circle on just 82 pitches and striking out two.
Key Stat
- Erin Coffel was moved to the lead-off position in the starting lineup Sunday afternoon, going 1-for-2 with a single, reaching on an error and a walk.
Run Recap
Taylor Ebbs hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning to give UK the 2-0 lead as her fifth longball of the season saw Kentucky score first inning. UK 2, ARK 0
In the bottom of the second, Kayla Kowalik ripped an RBI single up the middle to score Jenna Blanton, who reached on a single back to the pitcher. UK 3, ARK 0
Arkansas’ only run came on a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning. FINAL – Kentucky 3, Arkansas 1
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