Duke Spoils Kentucky’s Perfect Weekend, Cats Still Win Tourney
CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Kentucky Softball team lost to No. 8 Duke 6-3 on Sunday afternoon as five unearned runs handed to the Blue Devils doomed the Wildcats in the final game of the 2025 National Fastpitch Coaches Association D1 Lead-Off Classic.
Despite the loss Sunday, Kentucky finished the opening weekend of the season with a 4-1 record and was crowned the NFCA Lead-Off Classic Tournament Champions thanks to a +34 run differential in the event. It is the first time that UK has ever won the event.
Sunday’s much-anticipated game lived up to the hype as Kentucky and Duke were evenly matched throughout the day, but it was two Kentucky errors that ended up playing a part in five of the six Blue Devil runs that placed them on the top of the ledger Sunday afternoon. UK got solid outings in the circle from Alexia Lacatena, Sydney Langdon and Sarah Haendiges, but it was Cassidy Curd who threw a complete game for the Blue Devils and earned her second win of the season.
Peyton Plotts was 1-for-3 on the day with an RBI double in the bottom of the first inning that tied the game at 1-1 as she drove in Allie Blum, who stood on second after a two-out double. Plotts was given All-Tournament honors by the NFCA as the sophomore from Lexington, Kentucky hit .563 on the weekend with nine hits, five runs scored, four doubles and 10 RBI.
Kentucky closes the weekend 4-1 as Duke finishes the tournament with a 3-2 mark. The Wildcats will be in action Thursday afternoon as part of the ESPN Shriners Children’s Elite Invitational presented by EvoShield at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex running all of next weekend in Clearwater.
Key Play
Duke broke open the game in the top of the third inning as a 1-1 game turned into a 4-1 game thanks to a two-run, three-base error by the Kentucky defense.
Key Player
Ally Hutchins was the player of the game, as she went 2-for-4 with a run scored and a stand-up triple.
Super Stat
- Kentucky had four extra-base hits in the game, all by four different Wildcats. Peyton Plotts and Allie Blum logged doubled with Ally Hutchins and Hallie Mitchell each earning stand-up triples in the game.
Run Recap
Duke scored on a passed ball that turned into a run an out later on a sacrifice fly in the top of the first inning. DU 1, UK 0
In the bottom of the first, Kentucky responded with an RBI double by Plotts to score Allie Blum down the right-field line. UK 1, DU 1
In the top of the third, a costly set of Kentucky errors pushed four runs, all unearned, across for the Blue Devils. DU 5, UK 1
Kentucky got a run back in the bottom of the third on a sacrifice fly by McKenzie Bump to score Ally Hutchins after a lead-off triple. DU 5, UK 2
Duke tacked on an insurance run with back-to-back hits in the top of the seventh. DU 6, UK 2
Karissa Hamilton led off the seventh inning with a walk and pinch runner Hallie Mitchell scored on a wild pitch late in the inning. FINAL – #8 Duke 6, Kentucky 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.
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