Lawson Earns Win No. 600 at Kentucky in Doubleheader Sweep
CLEARWATER, Fla. – Kentucky Softball head coach Rachel Lawson earned her 600th win at Kentucky on Saturday afternoon as the Wildcats picked up two run-rule wins over Morgan State and Southern Miss at day two of the 2025 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Lead-Off Classic.
Win No. 600 for Lawson at UK came in the first game of the twin bill as UK downed Morgan State, 12-0 with nine runs in the fifth inning and a run in each of the first three frames. Kentucky had 11 hits in the contest and freshman Julie Kelley earned a complete-game shutout in her first-career appearance for the Blue and White. Kelley went the distance, allowing only two hits, one walk and striking out four batters in the contest as a foulout to Karissa Hamilton ended the game and handed Lawson win No. 600 at the head of the Kentucky dugout.
Later in the afternoon, it was the debut of Carson Fall to the Kentucky Softball lineup, as she went the opening two innings in the circle, allowing only three runs and fanning two in the 13 batters she faced. Kentucky struck for five runs in the fifth inning as the Wildcats pelted 16 hits on the Eagles and put up three crooked numbers on the board in the contest to hand UK a 4-0 record. Sarah Haendiges went 3.0 innings to earn her first win as a Kentucky Wildcat, allowing just one hit and striking out five of the 12 batters she faced with not a single ball leaving the infield.
Kentucky is now 4-0 on the season with a chance to conclude opening weekend 5-0 for the first time since 2020 Sunday afternoon. UK will play No. 8 Duke at 11 a.m. ET to end the 2025 NFCA Lead-Off Classic with full video coverage from Clearwater, Florida and live stats available at UKathletics.com.
GAME 1 – KENTUCKY 12, MORGAN STATE 0
Key Play
In the top of the fifth inning, Ally Hutchins launched a two-run single into left-center field to score Karissa Hamilton and Delani Sullivan to push the Kentucky lead to 5-0 and put the game for all intensive purposes on ice for the Wildcats.
Key Player
Julie Kelley was the key player of the game, earning a complete-game shutout in her first-career start with only allowing two hits and striking out four batters.
Super Stat
- Kentucky scored nine runs in the fifth inning, as UK collected eight hits for its largest scoring output of the season to this point.
Run Recap
In the top of the first, Peyton Plotts delivered an RBI single through the left side of the infield to score McKenzie Bump. UK 1, MSU 0
In the top of the second, it was Ally Hutchins who delivered an RBI single to score Karissa Hamilton. UK 2, MSU 0
In the top of the third, it was Plotts’ first homer of the season that pushed the Wildcats out to a 3-0 lead. UK 3, MSU 0
Kentucky sent 11 to the plate in the top of the fifth as Peyton Plotts doubled, followed by singles from Cassie Reasner, Lauryn Borzilleri, Karissa Hamilton and Emory Donaldson to keep the train moving Hutchins launched an RBI single into left and then Allie Blum played add-on with another two-RBI single to end the scoring. FINAL – Kentucky 12, Morgan State 0
GAME 2 – KENTUCKY 13, SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI 3
Key Play
Cassie Reasner’s three-run home run in the top of the fifth inning took a 5-3 game and ballooned the Kentucky lead to 8-3.
Key Player
Sarah Haendiges was the key player in the game as she pitched three scoreless innings with five strikeouts, no walks and only surrendering one hit.
Super Stat
- Kentucky had 16 hits in the game, a new season high.
Run Recap
UK put up a four spot in the top of the first inning as Plotts doubled in two runs and then Reasner singled up the middle to score more. UK 4, USM 0
A lead-off single turned into a run in the top of the first for the Eagles. UK 4, USM 1
After Allu Hutchins led off the second with a single, Peyton Plotts singled into left to score Hutchins. UK 5, USM 1
After Southern Miss loaded the bases with no outs, Carson Fall buckled down and only gave up two runs and got out of the inning. UK 5, USM 3
In the fourth inning, Cassie Reasner belted her first-career home run to straight-away center to score three runs. UK 8, USM 3
Kentucky sent all nine to the plate in the fifth and it resulted in five runs. FINAL – Kentucky 8, Southern Miss 3
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.
