Mitchell’s First-Career Dinger Sends Kentucky Past Memphis & GT
ATLANTA, Ga. – The Kentucky Softball team scored 25 runs and 20 hits Saturday afternoon as it took the third and fourth games of its weekend in Atlanta with a 9-1 win over Memphis in the morning followed by an offensive onslaught in a 16-6 win over the hosts, Georgia Tech.
Senior catcher Hallie Mitchell launched her first-career home run in top of the fifth inning against Georgia Tech, as she nailed a 1-2 pitch over the wall in center to put Kentucky ahead of the Yellow Jackets 12-2 at the time. Mitchell’s home run was just one six homers hit in the game, as Mitchell was joined by Cassie Reasner, who had two long balls and shots by Peyton Plotts, Karissa Hamilton and Lauryn Borzilleri. The six home runs in a single game ties the most in a game all-time for Kentucky, joining the 2018 effort against Tennessee on April 27 in Knoxville of that year.
In the first game, Kentucky put up a five spot in the bottom of the first on a litany of walks in addition to a two-run single by catcher Karissa Hamilton and the Wildcats rode things out from there. UK then added a four spot in the bottom of the fourth, sending 10 batters to the plate and Allie Blum’s three-run blast put the exclamation point on the inning as Kentucky won against Memphis in a run-rule win, its second run-rule win of the weekend.
In the circle, Julie Kelley earned a complete-game win for Kentucky to up her record to 2-1 as she pitched all five innings against Memphis, only allowing three hits and one run. Kelley struck out a new career-high four batters and only needed 83 pitches to breeze through the game. Carson Fall, another true freshman for the Wildcats, earned the win for UK in the nightcap with a 3.1 inning performance in the circle, allowing just two runs with two strikeouts and 67 pitches. Sarah Haendiges came on in relief for Fall and Sydney Langdon closed out the game with 2.1 scoreless innings and just one hit to shut the door.
Kentucky with the pair of wins ends the day 9-5 on the season overall as Memphis fell to 8-5 and Georgia Tech moved to 8-6. The I-75 Challenge ends Sunday with Kentucky making the 30-minute journey north to Kennesaw to face the Kennesaw State Owls at 11:30 a.m. ET. The game will be broadcasted live on ESPN+.
GAME 1 – KENTUCKY 9, MEMPHIS 1
Key Play
Allie Blum’s three-run home run in the bottom of the fourth to put the game away was the key play.
Key Player
Cassie Reasner was the key player, going 2-for-2 at the plate with a single and a double in addition to a walk as she reached base safely in all three plate appearances.
Super Stat
7 of the 9 Kentucky runs came from the top five players in the Kentucky order consisting of Ally Hutchins, Delani Sullivan, Alli Blum, Peyton Plotts and Karissa Hamilton.
Run Recap
Karissa Hamilton hit a two-run single to the wall in LF after two runs were walked in with the bases loaded in the top of the first. Ella Emmert then walked with the bases juiced for an RBI and Kentucky earning a 5-0 lead after one. UK 5, MEM 0
Memphis scored a run in the top of the third on an RBI double, its only run of the game. UK 5, MEM 1
In the bottom of the fourth, Allie Blum hit a three-run homer and Delani Sullivan’s single drove in Lauryn Borzilleri, who led off the inning with a walk. FINAL – Kentucky 9, Memphis 1
GAME 2 – KENTUCKY 16, GEORGIA TECH 6
Key Play
Peyton Plotts’ three-run homer in the second inning, part of a three-homer inning, was the key play in the game Saturday.
Key Player
The key player was Hallie Mitchell, who launched her first-career longball, a three-run shot.
Super Stat
- Kentucky had six home runs in the game, tying a program record set vs. Tennessee in 2018.
Run Recap
Allie Blum hit a two-out double, which was followed by an RBI double from Peyton Plotts to give Kentucky the 1-0 lead in the top of the first. UK 1, GT 0
The Wildcats hit three homers in the top of the second, striking for six runs. Peyton Plotts hit a three-run bomb, Cassie Reasner hit the first of her two homers in the game, and Lauryn Borzilleri launched one to left field as Kentucky took a touchdown lead for the game. UK 7, GT 0
A two-run home run by the Yellow Jackets cut the lead. UK 7, GT 2
In the top of the third, Lauryn Borzilleri reached on a fielder’s choice with one out and scored on an RBI single from Kentucky lead-off hitter, Ally Hutchins. UK 8, GT 2
Karissa Hamilton tattooed her second HR of the season to deep LF over the wall to give Kentucky a seven-run lead after three. UK 9, GT 2
Hallie Mitchell hit a three-run home run in the top of the fifth and Hamilton hit a two-run double three batters later to put the game into run-rule territory. UK 13, GT 2
The Yellow Jackets hit a pair of two-run home runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut the Kentucky lead to seven and keep the game alive. UK 13, GT 6
Kentucky scored three times in the top of the seventh on a two-run home run from Cassie Reasner and Borzilleri scored on a wild pitch to end the scoring on a monster offensive day for Kentucky. FINAL – Kentucky 16, Georgia Tech 6
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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