Sixth Inning Texas Rally Enough to Secure Series, 7-6
AUSTIN, Texas – The No. 4 Texas Longhorns came from behind twice Friday morning and then took its first lead of the game with a sixth inning scoring rally to secure the series win over Kentucky with a 7-6 win at Red & Charline McCombs Field in Austin.
Kentucky put up four early runs on the Longhorns, knocking starter Citlaly Gutierrez from the game after just 1.1 innings as Hallie Mitchell, Allie Blum and Peyton Plotts all had RBI singles in the first two innings to give the Wildcats the early 4-0 lead. Texas plated a run on a UK error in the bottom of the second and then exploded for three back-to-back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the third inning to tie the game at four all as UK starter Sarah Haendiges was lifted from the contest.
After Peyton Plotts was walked to load the bases with no outs in the top of the fourth inning, Kentucky got an RBI single from Hallie Mitchell, her second of the day, to score Plotts and that reinstated the Kentucky lead at 5-4. Catcher Ella Emmert, who earned her first Southeastern Conference start of the season behind the dish, threw out two would-be base stealers on the basepaths as she played the best game of her career with a single sprinkled in, as well.
Game three of the series and the regular season finale for both teams will be Saturday at 2 p.m. ET with the broadcast live on SEC Network as Eric Frede and Madsion Shipman will have the call from Austin. Texas with the win Friday is now 44-9 and 15-8 in the Southeastern Conference. Kentucky falls to 29-24 and is 7-16 in the SEC.
Key Play
Reese Atwood’s go-ahead two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning was the key play in the game.
Key Player
Ella Emmert was UK’s key player in the game with a single, hit by pitch and two runners thrown out at second base on steals.
Super Stat
- All seven of Texas’ runs were scored with two outs in the game.
Run Recap
Hallie Mitchell hit an RBI single into right field to score the game’s opening run. UK 1, TEX 0
The Kentucky lead ballooned to 4-0 on RBI singles from Allie Blum, Peyton Plotts and Maddy Clark in the top of the second inning. UK 4, TEX 0
Texas scored on an error in the bottom of the second. UK 4, UT 1
In the bottom of the third, Texas hit three back-to-back-to-back home runs, all with two outs, to tie the game. UK 4, UT 4
In the top of the fourth Hallie Mitchell clubbed an RBI single up the middle to score Peyton Plotts. UK 5, TEX 4
In the bottom of the fifth, Texas tied the game on an RBI single. UK 5, TEX 5
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Reese Atwood hit a two-run homer to give Texas its first lead of the game. TEX 7, UK 5
Kentucky scored once in the seventh on an RBI groundout by Ella Emmert, but a 6-3 groundout ended the game with the tying run in scoring position. FINAL – Texas 7, Kentucky 6
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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