Hamilton’s Stellar Day Clubs No. 23 Kentucky to Saturday Sweep
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Karissa Hamilton, Erin Coffel and Grace Lorsung all had multi-homer days as the Wildcats hit eight as a team Saturday to bomb its way past Columbia 12-3 in five innings and Ohio State, 9-4 on day three of the 2024 John Cropp Classic in Lexington.
UK tied a program best with six home runs in a game Saturday as the Wildcats beat Columbia 12-3 in game one of the day with long balls from Grace Lorsung (2), Coffel, Hamilton, Taylor Ebbs, Rylea Smith, and a lead-off blast from Ally Hutchins as she was bumped up to the No. 1 slot in the batting order for the first time in her career. In Saturday’s nightcap, Hamilton and Coffel both pelted their second blasts of the day in the first inning as Kentucky raced past Ohio State, 9-4.
Alexia Lacatena picked up the win over Columbia, throwing a complete game with just three runs allowed, and only two of them earned. The Stanhope, N.J., product struck out four and didn’t walk a batter all afternoon. In the nightcap, Sydney Landgon continued the stellar start to her freshman campaign as she collected her fourth win of the season to improve to 4-2 in 2024. Langdon threw 3.0 innings, struck out a game-high six batters and allowed no runs in the contest. Stephanie Schoonover threw the final 1.2 innings for UK against Ohio State, allowing no runs or hits and striking out four.
With the pair of wins, Kentucky, ranked No. 23 in the nation, improves to 18-7 on the season. Columbia went 0-2 on the day with a loss to South Dakota State and UK to fall to 4-11. Ohio State also lost both games Saturday, dropping a 7-3 decision to South Dakota State before UK’s 9-4 triumph over the Buckeyes as OSU sits at 15-8.
The final day of the 2024 John Cropp Classic will begin at 11 a.m. ET as South Dakota State plays Columbia. Kentucky will then take center stage for the final games of the weekend with a scheduled 1 p.m. ET start vs. Columbia and the tournament will conclude at 3:30 p.m. ET with a rematch of the Wildcats and Buckeyes. Both Kentucky games will be on SEC Network+, ESPN3 and the ESPN app.
Kentucky 12, Columbia 3 (F/5)
Key Play
Ally Hutchins’ solo blast to lead off the game, as she was inserted into the lead-off position for the first time in her career was the key play in the game.
Key Player
The key player was Grace Lorsung, who went 3-for-3 with two home runs, numbers six and seven on the season, and a double.
Key Stat
- The six home runs tied a program best for the most in a single game. The last time it happened was in the 2022 NCAA Regional vs. Miami (OH) in a first-round game in Blacksburg, Va.
Run Recap
Ally Hutchins led off the game with a solo home run, and Erin Coffel followed with back-to-back jacks. After Rylea Smith reached on a walk, Grace Lorsung hammered a ball to left center to make it 4-0, Wildcats. Taylor Ebbs cranked out a double and scored on an RBI double by Jenna Blanton before Margaret Tobias had an RBI single. UK 6, CU 0
In the bottom of the second inning, Karissa Hamilton pelted a two-run home run to score herself and Grace Lorsung after a double. UK 8, CU 0
Rylea Smith hit a three-run home run in the third inning and Lorsung followed with back-to-back home runs. UK 12, CU 0
In the top of the fifth inning, Columbia got its only three runs on a three-run home run. FINAL – Kentucky 12, Columbia 3
Kentucky 9, Ohio State 4
Key Play
Margaret Tobias hit an RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning to score Peyton Plotts and give Kentucky a three-run cushion at 7-4, matching its largest lead of the game, and its largest since it was 4-1 after the top of the first inning.
Key Player
The key player in the game was Sydney Langdon, who went 3.0 innings, picked up the win in relief, and struck out six batters.
Key Stat
- Kentucky pitchers struck out 12 Buckeye batters in the game.
Run Recap
Ohio State executed a first and third play to take the lead in the top of the first. OSU 1, UK 0
In the bottom of the first, Erin Coffel hit a two-run HR and Karissa Hamilton on her birthday pelted her second HR of the day to make things 4-1. UK 4, OSU 1
Ohio State hit a two-run home run in the top of the second and a solo shot in the top of the third. UK 4, OSU 4
Emory Donaldson scored on a sacrifice fly from Peyton Plotts in the bottom of the third inning as Kentucky re-took the lead. UK 5, OSU 4
In the bottom of the fifth, Taylor Ebbs led of the inning with a single and pinch runner Vanessa Nesby scored on a gapper by Plotts to give UK a two-run lead. After a passed ball sent Plotts to third, Tobias threaded one through the left side to score Plotts and Tobias scored on an RBI double by Lauryn Borzilleri. UK 9, OSU 4
Stephanie Schoonover struck out a batter with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh inning to end the game. FINAL – Kentucky 9, Ohio State 4
2024 John Cropp Classic
Game 1 – Ohio State 10, South Dakota State 8
Game 2 – Kentucky 8, South Dakota State 0 (F/5)
Game 3 – Ohio State 9, Columbia 0 (F/5)
Game 4 – South Dakota State 9, Columbia 0 (F/6)
Game 5 – South Dakota State 7, Ohio State 3
Game 6 – Kentucky 12, Columbia 0 (F/5)
Game 7 – Kentucky 9, Ohio State 4
Game 8 – Columbia vs. South Dakota State (11am ET)
Game 9 – Kentucky vs. Columbia (1pm ET, SECN+)
Game 10 – Kentucky vs. Ohio State (3:30pm ET, SECN+)
Team Standings
Kentucky (3-0)
South Dakota State (2-2)
Ohio State (2-2)
Columbia (0-3)
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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