Karissa Hamilton Hits for Cycle, Ella Emmert Hits First-Career HR
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Friday was an eventful opening day for the Kentucky Softball team as the Wildcats earned two shutout wins with a 5-0 victory over North Carolina A&T and an 11-0 win in five innings over Northern Illinois in which senior catcher Ella Emmert hit her first-career home run and Karissa Hamilton became the first Kentucky Softball player since 2001 to hit for the cycle.
In game one, it was Sarah Haendiges who stole the show in the circle, as she struck out 12 batters on the afternoon in her first complete-game shutout of the season as she led Kentucky to a 5-0 win over North Carolina A&T. In game two, Kentucky took a 3-0 lead into the fifth inning and put up an eight spot on the scoreboard, with the Wildcats sending 11 batters to the plate to induce the run rule and cap off an 11-0 win over the Huskies.
Karissa Hamilton stepped up in the top of the first inning and hit a two-run home run to right center to give Kentucky a 2-0 lead for the opening leg of the cycle. In the top of the third inning, Hamilton singled up the middle to make things halfway there for the cycle. In the top of the fifth inning, Hamilton was one of three players to bat twice, in which she had an RBI double in the first part of the inning and then tripled off the wall in right center to complete the cycle. Hamiton is now the second player all-time at Kentucky to have hit for the cycle, as she joins Angie Del Pozzo, who went 4-for-4 with a cycle against Akron in 2001.
Also in the fifth inning of UK’s win against Northern Illinois, senior captain Ella Emmert hit her first-career home run as she banged one off the left-field foul pole to record her first-career dinger. Emmert’s homer was a two-run shot and put Kentucky up 9-0 in the inning.
Kentucky is now 9-4 on the season with the wins Friday on the opening day of the 2026 Blues City Classic. The Wildcats will return to action Saturday for games against Bradley and the host Memphis Tigers with the game against Memphis televised on ESPN+ and the ESPN app.
GAME 1 – KENTUCKY 5, NORTH CAROLINA A&T 0
Run Recap
Kentucky scored first in the top of the third inning using three true freshman to get it done. Alexa Riddel hammered a lead-off double into right center to put a runner in scoring position for the first time all game and Gabbie Hensley executed a perfect sac bunt on a 1-0 pitch to move Riddel into third. Maddy Anson then hit a sac fly into deep left to score the run and Kentucky took the early lead. UK 1, NCAT 0
In the top of the fourth, Peyton Plotts hit a one-out home run to right center on a low-driving ball to push Kentucky into a 2-0 advantage. UK 2, NCAT 0
Maddy Anson led off the top of the fifth with a solo home run on a 3-2 pitch to left center. UK 3, NCAT 0
Kentucky’s Peyton Plotts scored her second run of the game on an RBI single from Karissa Hamilton after Plotts led off the inning with an infield single and took second on a stolen base. Hamilton then scored on an RBI sac fly by freshman Katie Hirschy, the first RBI and first at-bat of her young career. FINAL – Kentucky 5, North Carolina A&T 0
Key Player
Sarah Haendiges was the key player for her performance in the circle, going the distance in just over 100 pitches with no walks and 12 strikeouts. It was the first 10+ strikeout game for Kentucky pitching since Hailey Nutter’s no-hitter on the second gameday of the season, Feb. 7.
Key Moment
Maddy Anson’s solo shot over the left-center fence was the key moment in the game as her second-career longball made things 3-0 in the top of the fifth inning.
Key Stat
- North Carolina A&T had no base runners advance into scoring position all game with its only three baserunners coming on singles.
Pitching Recap
Sarah Haendiges picked up her third win of the season in the circle with a complete-game effort. Haendiges threw 104 pitches with 70 recorded as strikes and struck out a season-high 12 batters as opposed to no walks on the afternoon. The Aggies managed just three hits off of Haendiges in her best outing of the season, where she allowed all singles and no extra-base hits.
GAME 2 – KENTUCKY 11, NORTHERN ILLINOIS 0 (F/5)
Run Recap
Karissa Hamilton hit a two-run home run to center field in the top of the first inning to hand Kentucky the early lead. UK 2, NIU 0
In the top of the second, Carly Sleeman led off the inning with a walk and scored on an RBI single off the bat of Maddy Clark. UK 3, NIU 0
Kentucky exploded for eight runs in the fifth inning, as UK sent 12 batters to the plate. All eight runs were scored with two outs led by a two-run homer off the bat of Peyton Plotts, her second homer of the day. Alexa Riddel had an RBI single and came around to score on Ella Emmert’s first-career longball. Karissa Hamilton then plated a run and completed a cycle on a triple to right center to close out the scoring. FINAL – Kentucky 11, Northern Illinois 0 (F/5)
Key Player
Karissa Hamilton was the key player in the game going 4-for-4 and hitting for the cycle. She was responsible for 10 bases, three RBI and two runs scored.
Key Moment
Ella Emmert’s first-career home run off the foul pole in the top of the fifth inning was the key momeny in the game.
Key Stat
- That was the last time a UK player hit for the cycle prior to Friday’s game.
Pitching Recap
Hailey Nutter threw a complete-game shutout for Kentucky, allowing only three hits with one walk and six strikeouts. Hutter was sensational, throwing only 80 pitches with 55 recorded as strikes.
For the latest on UK Softball, follow the Wildcats on Twitter and Instagram at @UKSoftball.
