Plotts’ Bomb Lifts No. 13 Kentucky Past USC Upstate in Five
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Freshman Peyton Plotts crushed her first-career home run and Stephanie Schoonover threw a complete-game shutout Friday night as No. 13 Kentucky run-ruled hosts USC Upstate 9-0 in five innings to cap off a 2-0 opening day at the 2024 Wings Etc. Classic in Spartanburg.
Kentucky scored nine runs in eight hits in the game, with Plotts and Erin Coffel both launching home runs in the contest. Coffel’s home run was the second pitch of the game, as she poked a ball out to left center, which was against the day’s prevailing wind and gave the Wildcats an early 1-0 lead. Plotts’ long ball came in the top of the fifth inning and took what was a 7-0 lead for UK and pushed the Wildcats into run rule territory as the two-run blast made things 9-0.
With the win, Kentucky improves to 8-2 on the season through the opening 10 games of the season and is now 2-0 in the Wings Etc. Classic, finishing the day as the only team in the tournament to finish both games.
The Wildcats will play two games Saturday, the first two games of the day, as it faces Monmouth at 10 a.m. ET followed by a 12:30 p.m. affair with Akron, who UK defeated earlier in the day.
Schoonover threw another gem for Kentucky, only facing two above the minimum with one walk and one single allowed in the contest. She threw 5.0 innings with eight strikeouts, as she collected her fifth win of the year to improve to 5-1.
Key Play
Erin Coffel’s two RBI double in the top of the second inning to make the score 3-0 early was the key play of the game.
Key Player
Stephanie Schoonover was the key player in the game, throwing a one-hitter.
Key Stat
- The Wildcats nine runs were enough to secure the first run-rule win of the season for UK.
Run Recap
Erin Coffel hit a lead-off solo HR in the top of the first inning on the second pitch of the game. UK 1, USCU 0
In the top of the second, Erin Coffel roped a two-RBI double off the wall in right center to bring in a pair of runs. She would later score on an error UK 4, USCU 0
Three Kentucky runs crossed in the third inning as Grace Lorsung drove in a two-RBI single through the left side and Taylor Ebbs would later score. UK 7, USCU 0
Peyton Plotts hit her first-career homer over the scoreboard in left in the top of the fifth inning to induce the run rule. FINAL – Kentucky 9, USC Upstate 0
NEW for 2024 – The Kentucky Softball Designated Players Club
The Designated Players is the Official Booster Program of Kentucky Softball. Financial contributions and community support through The Designated Players program, Kentucky Softball will be able to continue to develop our student-athletes on and off the field. To join The Designated Players, you can join online or click here to download the membership form and mail to the address listed. For more information, email Kristine Himes at kentuckysoftball@uky.edu or Larry Cash at Larry.Cash@uky.edu.
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