Kentucky Blanked For First Time in 3-0 Loss Sunday
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The No. 21 Kentucky Softball team dropped a 3-0 decision to South Carolina on Sunday afternoon, ending its home season at John Cropp Stadium. It’s the first time all season that UK has been shutout in a game, and marks the first time since 2015 that South Carolina has taken a series from Kentucky.
Kentucky managed just five hits off of Sage Mardjetko, who picked up her first Southeastern Conference win of the season Sunday with a complete-game shutout on two walks and seven strikeouts. Jaden Vickers was tagged with the loss for Kentucky, as she allowed two runs on three hits in the first two innings before Stephanie Schoonover entered to pitch the final five innings, allowing one run on three hits.
With the loss, Kentucky and South Carolina are now in a tie for 10th in the SEC standings on eight wins with Alabama. UK is 30-18 on the year with the result as South Carolina improves to 32-17 with both teams sitting on an 8-13 league record.
The SEC Network will televise the opening game of Kentucky’s final series against No. 3 Tennessee on Thursday night at 7 p.m. ET in Knoxville. Friday and Saturday will wrap up the SEC season in Knoxville before the Wildcats head to Auburn, Alabama for the SEC Tournament.
Key Play
The key play in the game came in the bottom of the sixth inning. With Rylea Smith on first and 0 outs and Erin Coffel batting with a 3-1 count, the first base umpire called Smith for leaving early, marking the first baserunning out all season for UK on that call of leaving early on what was an extremely tight decision after the SEC went to Birmingham for a video review. With the out, South Carolina was able to avoid a two-on, no-out situation and got out of the inning unscathed.
Key Player
Vanessa Nesby continued her hot hitting with a 2-for-2 day at the plate with two singles and three defensive putouts.
Key Stat
1. This was the first time this season Kentucky was shutout in a game.
Run Recap
South Carolina hit back-to-back home runs in the top of the first to take a 2-0 lead. USC 2, UK 0
In the top of the fifth, Devner Bryant hit a home run to close the book on the scoring. FINAL – South Carolina 3, Kentucky 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.
For the latest on UK Softball, follow the Wildcats on Twitter and Instagram at @UKSoftball.
