Plotts’ Home Run and Double Play Secures Series Win Over Ole Miss
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Sophomore outfielder Peyton Plotts hit the go-ahead home run in the bottom of the fifth inning and secured two outs in the top of the seventh inning on a double play as the Kentucky Softball team took the series from No. 20 Ole Miss with a 4-2 rubber match victory Sunday at John Cropp Stadium.
Sarah Haendiges was the winning pitcher in game three, much the same as game one, as she came in relief to throw 5.1 scoreless innings, allowing only four Rebel hits, and striking out three batters to collect her seventh win of the season in the circle. Haendiges threw 88 pitches Sunday with 48 recorded as strikes and has now won each of the last three Kentucky SEC games in the circle.
Delani Sullivan was fantastic all game for the Wildcats, coming up with three nice catches in center to rob the Rebels of extra bases, as well as going 1-for-1 at the plate with a run scored, a single and an RBI on Kentucky’s first run of the game.
Sunday’s win in the first rubber match of the season for the Wildcats gives UK two SEC series wins on the season as Kentucky previously swept Mizzou to open the league season two weeks ago. UK is now 21-11 on the season, hovering a season-high 11 games over .500 with a winning record in conference play at 5-4.
Ole Miss falls to 25-6 as the Rebs lost just their fifth and sixth games of the entire season to Kentucky over the weekend. The Rebels are now 3-3 in the SEC with a series win over Arkansas and a 2-1 defeat to Kentucky.
The Wildcats will return to action Tuesday afternoon at 6 p.m. ET against the No. 17 Stanford Cardinal in a non-conference midweek matchup pitting UK against its seventh Atlantic Coast Conference opponent of the season. The game will be televised on SEC Network+ with Dave Baker and Carol Bruggeman on the call from John Cropp Stadium.
Key Play
Peyton Plotts’ double play in the top of the seventh inning with a runner on first and no outs was the key play in the game.
Key Player
The key player was Delani Sullivan, who went 1-for-1 at the plate with an RBI, run scored and a single up the middle.
Super Stat
- Only one of Ole Miss’ runs in the game off UK’s pitching was earned.
Run Recap
In the top of the first, Ole Miss scored once on an RBI double the gap after Alexia Lacatena struck out the first two batters of the game, followed by the Rebs getting back-to-back extra-base hits to open the scoring. OM 1, UK 0
Ole Miss scored on a first and third to double its lead in the top of the third. OM 2, UK 0
Delani Sullivan hammered a sac fly to left field to score Hallie Mitchell with one out to give UK a run in the bottom of the fourth. Ally Hutchins then struck out swinging, but advanced to first on a wild pitch and Karissa Hamilton scored from third on the play to tie the game. OM 2, UK 2
Peyton Plotts hit a home run in the bottom of the fifth to left center to give Kentucky its first lead of the game. UK 3, OM 2
In the bottom of the sixth, Delani Sullivan led off the frame with a single up the middle and then took third on a bunt from Allie Blum. Ally Hutchins then singled down the line in left to score Sullivan. FINAL – Kentucky 4, Ole Miss 2
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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