Hamilton, Hammond and Haendiges Hand Kentucky 2-0 Start
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Led by Karissa Hamilton’s grand slam, Abby Hammond’s sixth-inning go-ahead home run, and a complete-game performance in the circle by Sarah Haendiges, the Kentucky Softball team won both games of a season-opening day doubleheader in day one of the SDSU Season Kick-Off.
Kentucky raced out to a 7-0 lead against Miami (OH) in game one of the day before the RedHawks scored six unanswered to cut the lead to one as Carson Fall then re-entered the game to close out an 8-7 wild win. In the second game of the day for Kentucky, the Wildcats came from behind in the bottom of the sixth inning, using a two-run home run from freshman Abby Hammond to take a 3-3 game and push UK into a 5-3 lead, which it would hold onto and close out the perfect day in San Diego.
For the second-straight season, UK is now 2-0. The Wildcats will play two games Saturday in day two of the SDSU Season Kick-Off, with Kentucky facing Loyola-Chicago again at 7:30 p.m. ET to start its day before closing out against the host San Diego State Aztecs at 10 p.m. ET with the game airing live on the Mountain West Digital Network from the SDSU Softball Stadium.
GAME 1 – KENTUCKY 8, MIAMI (OH) 7
Run Recap
Kentucky scored three times in an explosive bottom of the first inning to jump out on the RedHawks early. Allie Blum hit an RBI double to the gap in left center to score Maddy Clark, who led off the game with a single. Carly Sleeman then singled in Blum in her first-career at bat as a Wildcat and a third run came in to score in the form of Sleeman on a single by Alexa Riddel, in her first AB, as well. UK 3, MU 0
In the bottom of the second inning, Karissa Hamilton hit a grand slam to push the Kentucky lead to a game-high seven runs. Allie Blum advanced on an error, Peyton Plotts singled and Sleeman walked to load the bases. UK 7, MU 0
Miami scored once in the third, twice in the fifth and twice in the sixth on a two-run home run to cut into the lead and make things 7-5. UK 7, MU 5
Maddy Clark led off the UK sixth with a single up the middle and scored on a RedHawk error. UK 8, MU 5
Miami hit a two-run homer in the top of the seventh inning to make things 8-7 and then Carson Fall re-entered to get the final out and closed out the season-opening win. FINAL – Kentucky 8, Miami 7
Key Player
Karissa Hamilton went 1-for-3 with a grand slam and four RBI in the game.
Key Moment
Hamilton’s grand slam was also the key moment in Friday’s opening contest.
Key Stat
5. Each of the top five players in the Kentucky order had a hit in the game.
Pitching Recap
Carson Fall got the win on 6.0 innings pitched, including re-entering in the top of the seventh inning to close out the victory. Fall had just two walks and struck out three batters with nine hits and 96 pitches thrown. McKenzie Oslanzi and Hailey Nutter both made their first appearances for UK in a Wildcat jersey in relief.
GAME 2 – KENTUCKY 5, LOYOLA-CHICAGO 3
Run Recap
Loyola jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning thanks to a Kentucky error and an RBI double. LOY 2, UK 0
Kentucky got a run back in the bottom of the second as Emory Donaldson singled in Karissa Hamilton, who led off the threat with a double. LOY 2, UK 1
Loyola made things 3-1 in the top of the fourth inning thanks to a lead-off double that scored on a two-our error by the Kentucky defense. LOY 3, UK 1
Kentucky’s Ella Emmert was walked with the bases loaded and then Carly Sleeman hit a sac fly to right center in the bottom of the fourth inning to tie things up. UK 3, LOY 3
In the bottom of the sixth, Karissa Hamilton tripled to lead off the inning and Abby Hammond hit her first-career home run in the Blue and White over the left-center fence to give UK its first lead of the game. FINAL – Kentucky 5, Loyola 3
Key Player
Emory Donaldson was the key player in the game, going 2-for-2 with an RBI and clean defensive effort at third base.
Key Moment
Abby Hammond’s go-ahead home run in the bottom of the sixth inning was the key moment in the game.
Key Stat
3. Kentucky had three players with multiple hits, as Karissa Hamilton had three, and both Emory Donaldson and Maddy Anson had two hits in the game.
Pitching Recap
Sarah Haendiges pitched a complete game, allowing no earned runs and striking out four batters to tally her first win of the season in the circle on 113 pitches thrown with 67 recorded as strikes.
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