No. 4 UCLA Knocks Off No. 23 Kentucky Despite Fall’s Shining Start
CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Kentucky Softball team fell 3-1 to No. 4 UCLA on Saturday afternoon as it wrapped up its stay in Clearwater, Florida for the 2025 ESPN Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational Presented by EvoShield.
Carson Fall had a terrific start in the circle against one of the nation’s top offenses, as the true freshman from Bridge City, Texas went the first three innings, only allowing two runs on two hits, with both coming as Bruin solo home runs. Fall was terrific in the circle, throwing 41 strikes of the 69 pitches she threw and in relief was Sarah Haendiges, who pitched the final three innings, only allowing one run on three hits, with the run coming as an unearned marker. Haendiges struck out three batters for the afternoon and kept Kentucky in the game all afternoon.
UK cut a 2-0 UCLA lead in half in the bottom of the fourth inning on an RBI single up the middle by junior first baseman Lauryn Borzilleri to make things 2-1. In the bottom of the fifth, Kentucky loaded the bases with one out and chased UCLA starter Addisen Fisher from the game, before Kaitlyn Terry came in and got back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat for UK.
Kentucky ends its two-week stay in Clearwater with an impressive 6-4 record. In its first 10 games of the season, Kentucky played seven postseason teams from 2024, and three of the teams that made up last year’s Women’s College World Series. The Wildcats will take the midweek off before competing in next weekend’s I-75 Challenge co-hosted by Georgia Tech and Kennesaw State in Atlanta. UK starts play Friday afternoon in the ATL.
No. 4 UCLA with the win improved to 8-0 on the season and remains unbeaten.
Key Play
The key play in Saturday’s game for Kentucky was Lauryn Borzilleri’s RBI single up the middle to score Peyton Plotts, who led off the inning with a triple into deep right center that cut the UCLA lead in half.
Key Player
Carson Fall was the key player in the game, going 3.0 innings with just two runs and two hits allowed.
Super Stat
- Sarah Haendiges struck out three batters in the game, setting a new season high for the junior transfer.
Run Recap
Jordan Woolery hit a two-out solo HR to straight-away center in the bottom of the first inning. UCLA 1, UK 0
With one out in the bottom of the third, UCLA hit a second solo shot to double its lead. UCLA 2, UK 0
After a lead-off triple by Peyton Plotts, Lauryn Borzilleri drove her in with a single back up the box to cut the lead in half. UCLA 2, UK 1
UCLA added an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI double. FINAL – #4 UCLA 3, #23 Kentucky 1
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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