South Carolina Sweeps Series Monday Night Over Kentucky
COLUMBIA, S.C. – No. 12/13 South Carolina completed the sweep of the Kentucky Softball team on Monday night with a 7-0 win at Beckham Field in Columbia.
Julie Kelley was terrific in the circle for Kentucky who went the opening 5.1 innings of the game, allowing only two runs at the time when she was removed from the game before the Gamecocks struck for six runs in the bottom of the sixth off of three different Wildcat arms to put the game away.
Kentucky had three hits in the game, with two coming off the bat of freshman Allie Blum, who had a triple in the top of the first inning and a lead-off single in the top of the fourth inning, but was left stranded on the bases both times.
The loss is Kentucky’s seventh-straight defeat in Southeastern Conference play as UK is now 6-12 in SEC play this season. The Wildcats are now 27-20 overall on the year. South Carolina with the win is now two games over .500 in the SEC with a 10-8 SEC record as the Gamecocks are 35-11 overall on the season after Monday night’s game.
UK will next play Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday night in Richmond at Gertrude Hood Field on EKU’s campus. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET on ESPN+ and the ESPN app.
Key Play
The Gamecocks three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth to make a 3-0 game 6-0 was the key play in the game.
Key Player
Allie Blum was the key player for the Wildcats on Monday night with a 2-for-3 showing at the plate with a triple and a single.
Super Stat
- Monday capped off the first time in 19 years that Kentucky only scored one run in a three-game SEC series.
Run Recap
South Carolina scored on a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the second with a ball hit to the left side after a lead-off walk and single. Kelley then got a strikeout to end the inning only allowing one run. USC 1, UK 0
USC scored six times in the sixth to break open the game as the Gamecocks got an RBI triple, RBI fielder’s choice, RBI single up the middle and a three-run home run. FINAL – South Carolina 7, Kentucky 0
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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