Anson’s Walk-Off Homer Clinches Perfect Weekend for Kentucky
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Freshman left fielder Maddy Anson hit her fifth home run of the season to walk off the game in the bottom of the fifth inning Sunday afternoon as Kentucky beat Murray State 8-0 in six innings to complete a 5-0 weekend at the John Cropp Classic for the Wildcats.
Kentucky jumped out to the early lead on the Racers and never looked back as the Wildcats got an early home run from Peyton Plotts, her fourth of the weekend to lead 1-0 and then a six-run second inning ensued with UK taking full control. Carly Sleeman went 3-for-3 at the plate with her first home run at John Cropp Stadium coming in the bottom of the second inning and driving in two runs for the game, her first three-hit game as a Wildcat.
With Sunday’s result, Kentucky caps off a 5-0 weekend at the John Cropp Classic where it outscored its opponents 38-4. The Kentucky pitching staff threw 32 total innings, only allowing three earned runs as a staff and had 21 strikeouts to just five walks on the weekend. Sarah Haendiges went 2-0 on the weekend with wins over Michigan State and Murray State and all three of Abby Hammond, Hailey Nutter and McKenzie Oslanzi picked up wins in the circle for UK.
The Wildcats have now won a season-high 11-straight games and sit 17-4 through three weekends of play. UK will close out its six-game homestand on Wednesday at 5 p.m. ET as it plays host to IU Indy at John Cropp Stadium with the game airing live on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app. Tickets are available at UKathletics.com.
Run Recap
Peyton Plotts hit a solo homer in the bottom of the first inning. UK 1, MUR 0
Carly Sleeman led off the bottom of the second inning with her second home run of the season. Ella Emmert then doubled and scored on a bases-loaded walk to Allie Blum with Karissa Hamilton following with a two-run single through the left side. Carly Sleeman then in her second AB of the inning thwarted a ball through into left field to make it a six-run inning. UK 7, MUR 0
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Maddy Anson took a 1-1 pitch and demolished it off the videoboard on left field to walk off the game. FINAL – Kentucky 8, Murray State 0
Key Player
Carly Sleeman was the key player in the game going 3-for-3 with a home run and two singles. Two of the three hits were RBI hits and she hit her first-career John Cropp Stadium home run.
Key Moment
The key moment of the game came in the bottom of the second inning as Karissa Hamilton delivered a two-run single through the left side to score Emory Donaldson and Allie Blum and opened up the game to make things 5-0.
Key Stat
- For the fourth-straight game, Kentucky played errorless defense.
Pitching Recap
Sarah Haendiges went the distance on only 77 pitches, allowing two hits and collecting her sixth win of the season to move to 6-1 on the year. Haendiges struck out five batters and only walked one with 49 of her 77 pitches recorded as strikes.
2026 John Cropp Classic
Game 1 – Murray State 6, Michigan State 5
Game 2 – Kentucky 10, Michigan State 2 (F/5)
Game 3 – Kentucky 5, Dayton 1
Game 4 – Michigan State 7, Murray State 4
Game 5 – Murray State 5, Dayton 0
Game 6 – Kentucky 6, Michigan State 1
Game 7 – Kentucky 9, Dayton 0
Game 8 – Michigan State 2, Dayton 1
Game 9 – Dayton 7, Murray State 3
Game 10 – Kentucky 8, Murray State 0
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