Ally Hutchins Delivers Again as Kentucky Walks Off Michigan
STILLWATER, Okla. – With the bases loaded and two outs, freshman Ally Hutchins stepped into the box with a 2-2 count and delivered a walk-off single into shallow right field to score Erin Coffel from third as the Kentucky Softball team beat Michigan 4-3 in the opening game of the 2024 NCAA Stillwater Regional. The win is Kentucky’s 11th-straight NCAA Regional Opening Round win.
In a see-saw game that saw three lead changes and three ties, the Wildcats came through in the clutch, scoring once in the final frame to walk things off and book its ticket into the winner’s bracket of the regional. With the score knotted at 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh, Rylea Smith and Erin Coffel singled with one out to put two on with an out. After a tremendous play to get the lead out at third, Grace Lorsung was then intentionally walked to load the bases for Ally Hutchins with two outs. Hutchins then delivered a 2-2 pitch just over the head of the second baseman and in front of the right fielder to score Coffel from third to walk it off.
With the win, Kentucky advances into the winner’s bracket of the regional and will play the winner of Oklahoma State and Northern Colorado at 1 p.m. ET on Saturday afternoon. The television assignments will be announced later Friday night with the game being streamed live on ESPN+ at a minimum.
Stephanie Schoonover went the distance in the circle to pick up her career-high 19th win of the season to move to 19-8. Schoonover went 7.0 innings, allowing just three runs on six hits with five walks and four strikeouts. The Vicksburg, Mississippi native threw 162 pitches with 94 for strikes. Michigan’s Lauren Derkowski also pitched a complete game, allowing four earned runs on seven hits with four walks and eight strikeouts.
Kentucky’s offense came from all parts of the order, with Grace Lorsung hitting a home run, and RBI hits from the middle with Vanessa Nesby and Peyton Plotts, as well.
Key Play
Ally Hutchins’ walk-off single was the key play of the game as the walk-off win sealed the game for the Wildcats.
Key Player
The key player in the game was Vanessa Nesby who caught four balls in the outfield with the sun in her face, and punched a key RBI double into left field to score Margaret Tobias and tie the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth.
Key Stat
11. This is Kentucky’s 11th-straight opening win in the NCAA Regional round.
Run Recap
An RBI single to left field scored the opening run of the game for the Wolverines in the top of the second inning. UM 1, UK 0
Peyton Plotts roped an RBI double off the wall in left field to score Emory Donaldson from second base with one out as Kentucky tied the game. UK 1, UM 1
Kentucky took the 2-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning on Grace Lorsung’s team-leading 14th home run of the season to left center. UK 2, UM 1
Michigan hit a two-run homer to re-take the lead in the top of the fifth. UM 3, UK 2
Vanessa Nesby hit an RBI double to left to score Margaret Tobias in the bottom of the fifth inning to square the game in the bottom of the fifth. UK 3, UM 3
With the score knotted at 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh, Rylea Smith and Erin Coffel singled with one out to put two on with an out. After a tremendous play to get the lead out at third, Grace Lorsung was then intentionally walked to load the bases for Ally Hutchins with two outs. Hutchins then delivered a 2-2 pitch just over the head of the second baseman and in front of the right fielder to score Coffel from third to walk it off. FINAL – Kentucky 4, Michigan 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.
For the latest on UK Softball, follow the Wildcats on Twitter and Instagram at @UKSoftball.
