Ebbs and Hutchins’ Timely Seventh Inning Gives UK 2-0 Day
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – With the game tied in the top of the seventh inning. Kentucky’s offense came up clutch as Taylor Ebbs scorched an RBI single into left center to score Erin Coffel from second base and freshman Ally Hutchins tattooed a ball up the middle on the next play to score Ebbs as No. 13 Kentucky held on to beat Akron, 7-5 and close out a 2-0 day at the Wings Etc., Classic in Spartanburg.
Stephanie Schoonover then took to the circle in the bottom of the seventh and with a walk and two singles, the Zips loaded the bases with one out. Schoonover then battled back from down 3-0 in the count to get a strikeout looking for out number two and a lineout to Erin Coffel ended the game as the senior from Vicksburg, Mississippi picked up her sixth win of the season.
Kentucky jumped out to a 5-0 lead through two and a half innings thanks to a pair of home runs from Erin Coffel and Taylor Ebbs as the hot start marked the fourth-straight game of the weekend in which Kentucky scored first. Akron then scored five unanswered, as a solo homer in the third and then a three-run shot made things 5-4. A solo shot again put the Zips on level terms with UK in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game.
Sydney Landgon started the game for Kentucky, going 2.0 innings with three strikeouts and a trio of walks. Alexia Lacatena then came on in relief before Schoonover closed out the final four innings, with just one run on three hits with a game-high eight strikeouts.
For Coffel, she has now hit three home runs this weekend and that moves her career total to 59, two shy of tying Abbey Cheek (2016-19) for the all-time Kentucky home run record.
The Wildcats will close out the 2024 Wings Etc. Classic against hosts USC Upstate on Sunday afternoon at 12:30 p.m. ET. UK moves to 10-2 with the win Saturday as Akron falls to 1-6.
Key Play
Taylor Ebbs’ RBU single into left to give Kentucky the lead in the top of the seventh inning was the key play in the game.
Key Player
The key player in the game was Taylor Ebbs, who went 2-for-3 with two runs scored, a home run and two runs batted in, including the game-winning RBI.
Key Stat
- UK pitching had 11 strikeouts in the game, including a key K in the top of the seventh inning with the bases loaded.
Run Recap
An RBI groundout by Jenna Blanton followed by an RBI double from Peyton Plotts put Kentucky up 2-0 in the top of the second inning. The lineup then turned over for Erin Coffel, who belted a two-run blast to straight-away center. UK 4, AKR 0
Taylor Ebbs hit a solo homer in the top of the third inning. UK 5, AKR 0
In the bottom of the third, Akron got a sacrifice fly and a three-run homer to pull within one. UK 5, AKR 4
Akron tied the game on a solo shot in the bottom of the fifth. UK 5, AKR 5
In the top of the seventh, Erin Coffel led off the inning with a hit by pitch and a Lauryn Borzilleri bunt moved her to second. Coffel then scored on a Taylor Ebbs RBI single and Ally Hutchins followed that with an RBI single up the middle for insurance. FINAL – Kentucky 7, Akron 5
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