Kayla Kowalik’s Walk-Off Run Caps Storybook Finish on Senior Day
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Thanks to a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh off the bat of Taylor Ebbs, Kayla Kowalik was able to slide across home plate on her senior day as she was the winning run in a walk-off as No. 23 Kentucky rallied from a run down in the seventh to score twice and take an exciting 7-6 win over the No. 16 Florida Gators in front of 2,049 fans at John Cropp Stadium.
Kentucky jetted out to a 4-0 lead after three innings, chasing Florida starting pitcher Lexie Delbrey from the circle after three innings of work. The Gators then scored in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings to take their first lead of the night with a 6-5 lead going into the bottom of the seventh. Rylee Trlicek pitched four innings in relief without surrendering an earned run for the Gators.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Margaret Tobias started the rally with a single up the middle and Kayla Kowalik doubled to the wall in left to put runners at second and third with an out. Erin Coffel was walked for the fourth time of the weekend to load the bases and Elizabeth Hightower threw a wild pitch to score Tobias from third and tie the game. Taylor Ebbs then stepped into the box to win the game for Kentucky as Kowalik was safe at home on a slide, getting underneath the tag of Longley to walk it off.
The win on Senior Day marked the end of a season-long five-game losing streak for the Wildcats, who picked up another quad one win Sunday, their fifth of the season. Sloan Gayan picked up the win in the circle on her senior day, throwing three innings, striking out a batter and allowing just two hits in her time in the circle.
The series finale will be Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN2 with Eric Frede and Madison Shipman on the call from Lexington. It will be the first time Kentucky has played in a rubber match this season.
Key Play
The game-winning sacrifice fly from Taylor Ebbs was the key play in the game, as it ended the contest.
Key Player
Kayla Kowalik was the key player, going 2-for-4 at the plate as she was reinserted into the lead-off position in the Kentucky lineup. She also had an RBI.
Key Stat
2,049. A new season high attendance mark was set on Saturday afternoon.
Run Recap
Lauryn Borzilleri was walked with the bases loaded in the bottom of the first inning. UK 1, FLA 0
In the bottom of the third, Kentucky scored three times, with all runs coming as unearned on a throwing error, a Kayla Kowalik sac fly and an Erin Coffel RBI single. UK 4, FLA 0
Florida’s Charla Echols hit a two-run homer in the top of the fourth. UK 4, FLA 2
In the bottom of the fourth, Meeko Harrison had an RBI groundout to the right side to score Grace Lorsung and put UK back on top by three. UK 5, FLA 2
The fifth inning was a three-run frame for the Gators thanks to Kendra Falby’s triple. UK 5, FLA 5
A sac fly scored the go-ahead run in the seventh. FLA 6, UK 5
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Margaret Tobias started the rally with a single up the middle and Kayla Kowalik doubled to the wall in left to put runners at second and third with an out. Erin Coffel was walked for the fourth time of the weekend to load the bases and Elizabeth Hightower threw a wild pitch to score Tobias from third and tie the game. Taylor Ebbs then stepped into the box to win the game for Kentucky as Kowalik was safe at home on a slide, getting underneath the tag of Longley to walk it off. FINAL – Kentucky 7, Florida 6
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