Kelley and Langdon Ignite Kentucky to Clemson Regional Final
CLEMSON, S.C. – The Kentucky Softball team booked its first ticket into an NCAA Tournament Regional Final on Saturday afternoon with a sweep of two games, as the Wildcats beat USC Upstate 11-0 in six innings and knocked off Northwestern 8-3 in the second game to earn a spot into Sunday’s Clemson Regional Final for a shot at NCAA Super Regionals.
Kentucky needed just two pitchers to get through the day, as freshman Julie Kelley threw a complete-game shutout over USC Upstate in an 11-0 win as she allowed only three hits and one walk on the game. The freshman from Ordmond Beach, Florida earned her first-career postseason appearance with the start and threw her second complete-game shutout of the season. In game two, it was Sydney Langdon’s time to shine as the sophomore threw a complete-game seven-inning win, allowing only five hits to Northwestern’s offense and three runs, with a season-high tying five strikeouts to boot.
With the win, Kentucky now will advance to Sunday’s regional final to play No. 11 Clemson with UK needing to win twice to advance to NCAA Super Regionals. The first game, game six of the regional, will begin at 1 p.m. ET and will be broadcast live on ESPN+ with Alex Perlman and Brittney McKinney on the call from McWhorter Stadium in Clemson.
Kentucky had terrific offensive performances in both games as Peyton Plotts continued her postseason tear, with four hits vs. USC Upstate, including two singles, a triple and a home run as she was just a double shy of the cycle as she added in two RBI and three runs scored. Plotts then went 2-for-4 vs. NU in the nightcap, scoring once and driving in a run to make Kentucky’s lead balloon to 5-1 in that game. Plotts was one of four Wildcats with two-plus RBI against the Spartans as she was joined by Allie Blum, Hallie Mitchell and Emory Donaldson, who went 3-for-3 vs. USC Upstate with a run scored and three RBI.
Kentucky was trailing 1-0 entering the second inning against Northwestern before striking for seven runs off of NU’s pitching, three different pitchers, in the frame. All seven runs came stunningly with two outs as UK notched a pair of walks to put two batters on, an RBI single, another walk, a two-RBI double by Allie Blum, a two-RBI single by Maddy Clark an RNI single by Peyton Plotts and then Plotts scored on a wild pitch to score the seventh run of the inning. Ally Hutchins added in Kentucky’s eighth run on a solo home run to lead off the top of the third inning as Kentucky ran away and hid from the Big Ten’s Wildcats.
UK is now 31-27 on the season. USC Upstate finished its 2025 season as Big South Champions with a 39-16 overall record. Northwestern closed out 2025 at 30-20-1.
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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