Karissa Hamilton’s Walk-Off Homer Run Rules South Dakota St.
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Karissa Hamilton hit a walk-off three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth and freshman pitcher Sydney Langdon threw a complete-game shutout as No. 23 Kentucky run-ruled South Dakota State 8-0 on Thursday night on opening day of the 2024 John Cropp Classic.
Kentucky scored eight runs on six hits Thursday evening, with four coming via the long ball as freshman Peyton Plotts launched a solo bomb in the bottom of the third inning before Hamilton’s walk-off blast to end the game in the bottom of the fifth.
Langdon, a freshman from Perry, Georgia, went the distance in the circle, striking out five batters to earn her third win of the season as she upped her record to 3-2 on the year and lowered her ERA to under three. She needed just 86 pitches to complete the contest after throwing 30 in the top of the first inning alone. Langdon only surrendered one Jackrabbit hit on the night, coming on a single up the middle in the top of the second.
Hallie Mitchell got the Kentucky offense going in the bottom of the second inning on a two-RBI single up the middle in a pinch-hit appearance to push the Cats out of the gates. Plotts added a third run in the bottom of the third and a double by Erin Coffel put a fourth run on the board in the bottom of the fourth prior to UK putting up a four spot to close out the night.
UK improves to 16-7 on the season with Thursday night’s win. The Jackrabbits fell to 13-18 with the loss. Day two of the John Cropp Classic will feature just one game due to the expected inclement weather in Lexington, as Columbia will play Ohio State at 4 p.m. ET.
Kentucky will be in action next for two games on Saturday with a 3pm ET game against Columbia followed by a 5:30pm nightcap against the Ohio State Buckeyes.
Key Play
The key play in the game was Hallie Mitchell’s two-Rbi single up the middle in the bottom of the second inning to break open the offense as Emory Donaldson scored from third and Grace Lorsung scored from second as Kentucky took the early 2-0 lead.
Key Player
The key player in the game was Peyton Plotts who went 2-for-3 in the game with two RBI singles, a run scored, and her fifth home run of the season to lead all freshman for Kentucky.
Key Stat
- Freshman Sydney Langdon needed just 86 pitches to get through Thursday night’s game.
Run Recap
Hallie Mitchell hit a two-RBI single up the box in the bottom of the second inning, scoring Emory Donaldson and Grace Lorsung. UK 2, SDSU 0
Peyton Plotts hit a solo home run to left in the bottom of the third inning. UK 3, SDSU 0
In the bottom of the fourth inning, with Taylor Ebbs on first and two outs, Erin Coffel ripped a double to the gap in left-center and an error in the outfield scored Ebbs from first as Kentucky padded its lead. UK 4, SDSU 0
To close the game in the fifth, Peyton Plotts ripped an RBI single through the left side to score Rylea Smith, who led off the inning with a triple to center. After Grace Lorsung was hit by a pitch, Karissa Hamilton stepped up and hammered a 2-1 offering over the wall in center as Kentucky run-ruled the Jackrabbits, 8-0. FINAL – Kentucky 8, South Dakota State 0
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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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