Mauck’s First-Career Home Run Lifts Kentucky to Friday Split
CLEARWATER, Fla. – Freshman Anna Mauck hit her first-career home run in dramatic fashion, as a three-run shot in the sixth inning lifted No. 23 Kentucky past Clemson 7-6 as Carson Fall came on to get a game-ending strikeout looking with the tying run in scoring position and two outs to close out the win. Later in the night, Kentucky led No. 9 Oklahoma State 3-1 in the fifth inning, but the Cowgirls struck for a four spot in the inning to take the win, 6-3.
Kentucky had a strong offensive performance against Clemson, striking for seven runs on nine hits with runs in four of the seven innings of action. Both Peyton Plotts, who had a homer and an RBI double in addition to Mauck had three RBI in the contest with Emory Donaldson also throwing in an RBI double in the game. Alexia Lacatena got the win in the circle for Kentucky to up her record to 2-1 on the season as she went 5.0 innings, allowing just three runs and striking out two. Carson Fall earned her first-career save, getting a strikeout looking to end the game.
In the nightcap against No. 9 Oklahoma State, the Wildcats jetted out to a 3-1 lead with three runs in the bottom of the third, but a four-run fifth inning catapulted the Cowgirls to the lead thanks to two two-run home runs. OSU then added in an insurance run for themselves in the sixth inning, and hung on to beat the Wildcats, 6-3.
Kentucky currently sits 6-3 on the season and will close out its final game of the 2025 Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational Presented by EvoShield on Saturday at Noon ET vs. No. 4 UCLA. The game will be broadcasted on ESPN+ with Mark Neely and Danielle Lawrie on the call from Clearwater.
GAME 1 – KENTUCKY 7, CLEMSON 6
Key Play
Anna Mauck’s three-run bomb in the top of the sixth inning was the key play of the game to make things 7-2 in favor of the Wildcats, UK’s largest lead of the game.
Key Player
Carson Fall was the key player in the game, as she came on in relief of Sarah Haendiges, who threw 1.1 quality innings in relief for the Wildcats. Fall entered the game and struck out Kylee Johnson to end the game.
Super Stat
7. Kentucky had seven different players register a hit in the game, its largest offensive output of the tournament so far.
Run Recap
After a one-out double by McKenzie Bump, Peyton Plotts took the Tigers yard for her second home run of the season to give Kentucky the early lead. UK 2, CU 0
In the bottom of the first inning, Clemson went yard to tie the game. UK 2, CU 2
In the top of the second inning, Delani Sullivan doubled and then the next batter, with two outs, Emory Donaldson hammered an RBI double to left field to score Sullivan and give Kentucky the lead it wouldn’t relinquish. UK 3, CU 2
Kentucky played add-on in the third inning as Peyton Plotts doubled in McKenzie Bump to push the UK lead back to a pair of runs. UK 4, CU 2
Anna Mauch tattooed a ball to left field to score Karissa Hamilton and Cassie Reasner to push the UK lead to three runs. UK 7, CU 2
Clemson scored a run off a solo HR in the sixth and scored three runs off of a UK error in the seventh inning, but with the tying run in scoring position and two outs, Carson Fall then entered the game and struck out Ava Wilson to end the game in dramatic fashion. FINAL – Kentucky 7, Clemson 6
GAME 2 – OKLAHOMA STATE 6, KENTUCKY 3
Key Play
The key play in the game was Oklahoma State’s Rosie Davis hitting a game-tying two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning with one out.
Key Player
Julie Kelley pitched 4.1 solid innings with no walks and five strikeouts to give Kentucky one of its best quality starts of the season.
Super Stat
45/67. Julie Kelley pitched 45 strikes out of 67 pitches on the evening.
Run Recap
Oklahoma State scored on an RBI single up the middle in the top of the third inning to take a 1-0 lead. OSU 1, UK 0
Kentucky struck for three runs in the bottom of the third inning as a Cowgirl error plated a run, Peyton Plotts reached on an error and then Cassie Reasner had an RBI groundout to score UK’s third run. UK 3, OSU 1
Oklahoma St. hit two two-run home runs in the top of the fifth inning to take the lead. OSU 5, UK 3
A Kentucky error cost the Wildcats a run in the sixth as OSU added an insurance run. FINAL – #9 Oklahoma State 6, #23 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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