Langdon Shuts Door in Seventh as Kentucky Beats Wisconsin
CLEARWATER, Fla. – After spotting the Wisconsin Badgers three early run in the top of the first on a home run, the No. 14 Kentucky Softball team rallied to beat the Badgers with a home run from Karissa Hamilton, a strong effort in the circle from Jaden Vickers and a save from freshman Sydney Langdon.
With the win, Kentucky improves to 2-0 in the 2024 Shriners Children’s Clearwater Elite Invitational hosted by ESPN, and was the only team Thursday to go 2-0 in the tournament. Combined with Kentucky’s wild 12-10 win over North Carolina earlier Thursday, the Wildcats are now 6-1 on the season.
The tournament continues Friday for UK, who will play No. 6 Washington in its third top-10 match-up of the season for the Wildcats. The game will begin at 9:30 a.m. ET and will air on ESPN+ with Tyler Denning and Jenny Dalton-Hill on the call from Clearwater.
Vickers got the win Thursday night, throwing six complete innings with only four Badger hits and eight strikeouts. She only walked one batter on the night and threw 115 pitches. Sydney Langdon came in and pitched the seventh inning for the Wildcats, earning her first-career save with a hit and a strikeout.
With Langdon in the circle, the Badgers put two on and one out, but the Wildcats closed the door as the UW No. 3 batter in the order grounded into a game-ending 6-4-3 double play as Margaret Tobias and Erin Coffel teamed to get the runner at first and end the threat and close the door on UW.
Key Play
The key play was Ally Hutchins’ triple to lead off the bottom of the second inning to get UK’s game-tying rally going.
Key Player
The key player in the game was Erin Coffel, who went 2-for-3, including a bunt single.
Key Stat
- Kentucky pitching only issued one walk.
Run Recap
Wisconsin hit a three-run homer in the top of the first inning with two outs. UW 3, UK 0
After Ally Hutchins led off the inning with a triple, she scored on a Taylor Ebbs groundout. Karissa Hamilton then hit a HR to right field going oppo taco to tie the game. UK 3, UW 3
Kentucky took its first lead in the third inning as it executed a first and third play with Vanessa Nesby and Erin Coffel to score. UK 4, UW 3
UW scored an unearned run on a play at the plate in the top of the fourth to tie the game. UK 4, UW 4
In the top of the fifth, three-straight bunts scored a run for the Wildcats to make things 5-4 before a bloop single from Taylor Ebbs added on a second insurance run. UK 6, UW 4
The Badgers scored its final run of the game in the sixth off of a UK error. FINAL – Kentucky 6, Wisconsin 5
For the latest on UK Softball, follow the Wildcats on Twitter and Instagram at @UKSoftball.
