Plotts’ Seventh-Inning Double Rescues Kentucky on Friday
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Down to its last strike in the seventh inning and trailing Western Kentucky by a run with the tying run on second and two outs, sophomore slugger Peyton Plotts delivered with a game-tying double off the wall in left field as No. 24 Kentucky then went on to score twice more in the inning to rally and salvage a win on day one at the 2025 Hilltopper Spring Fling.
After Kentucky had led 4-2 going into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Hilltoppers put up a three spot on the board with a Kentucky error snowballing into a crooked number for WKU to turn around a 4-2 deficit into a 5-4 lead for the home side. McKenzie Bump led off the top of the seventh reaching on an error and got to second on a wild pitch. After WKU got two quick outs, Peyton Plotts then delivered a 1-2 offering to LF to score Bump and tie the game. Lauryn Borzilleri then stepped up and with the bases loaded, blooped a ball over the second baseman’s head to score two runs with two outs and handed UK the 7-5 lead.
Sarah Haendiges, who pitched 1.2 scoreless innings in relief of starter Sydney Langdon, then struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh, with all outs recorded via strikeouts swinging. The win for Haendiges is her second of the season to move to 2-1 on the year as Kentucky buoyed its record to 11-6 on the year with the split day.
Day two of the tournament begins for Kentucky on Saturday at 11 a.m. ET with UK playing Tennessee Tech, followed by a 4 p.m. ET game against Western Kentucky in a sold-out contest.
UK fell 7-5 to Evansville in the morning session game, as the Purple Aces struck for seven runs in the first inning, and the Wildcats couldn’t recover despite RBI hits from Emory Donaldson and Ally Hutchins in the contest.
GAME 1 – EVANSVILLE 7, KENTUCKY 5
Key Play
The key play was a two-run home run for the Purple Aces with two outs in the bottom of the first to extend a 5-0 lead to 7-0, and those two runs ended up being the difference in the game.
Key Player
Kentucky’s key player was Alexia Lacatena, who went 5.1 innings allowing just one run, walking none and striking out five batters. Lacatena threw 72 pitches with 48 recorded as strikes and allowed only two hits in her relief outing in the circle.
Super Stat
- The seven runs allowed in an inning was the most all season for Kentucky.
Run Recap
Evansville scored seven runs in the bottom of the first inning as the Purple Aces struck for four hits, and took advantage of three walks, a hit by pitch and three RBI hits. Evansville loaded the bases with two outs ahead 1-0 on a sac fly and got a double to the wall in right center to make things 4-0. After an RBI single, the Purple Aces then homered to put up a seven spot. UE 7, UK 0
In the top of the second, Emory Donaldson cranked a bases-clearing double to the wall in right center to score three runs and get the Wildcats back into the game. UE 7, UK 3
Ally Hutchins hit a one-out two-run home run into right to score a pair and claw the Wildcats to within two. FINAL – Evansville 7, Kentucky 5
GAME 2 – KENTUCKY 7, WESTERN KENTUCKY 5
Key Play
Lauryn Borzilleri’s two-run go-ahead single into shallow left in the top of the seventh inning was the key play of the game.
Key Player
Peyton Plotts went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI in the game, earning key player honors.
Super Stat
- Six of Kentucky’s eight hits came from the 3-4-5 hitters in the UK order as Kentucky rallied to come from behind to win a game after the fourth inning for the first time in 2025.
Run Recap
WKU scored on an RBI single in the bottom of the second to take the early lead. WKU 1, UK 0
Kentucky got a two-run homer from Peyton Plotts and a solo HR from Ally Hutchins in the top of the third to take its first lead of the game. UK 3, WKU 1
In the bottom of the fourth, WKU hit a solo homer to pull within one. UK 3, WKU 2
Anna Mauck delivered a two-out single to left center to score Ally Hutchins with two outs in the top of the sixth to reinstate a two-run edge for UK. UK 4, WKU 2
WKU scored three runs on two hits in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run double and a walked-in run with the bases loaded. WKU 5, UK 4
McKenzie Bump led off the top of the seventh reaching on an error and got to second on a wild pitch. After WKU got two quick outs, Peyton Plotts then delivered a 1-2 offering to LF to score Bump and tie the game. Lauryn Borzilleri then stepped up and with the bases loaded, blooped a ball over the second baseman’s head to score two runs with two outs and handed UK the 7-5 lead. FINAL – Kentucky 7, Western Kentucky 5
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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