Hot Start Propels Kentucky to SEC Opening Win over Auburn
AUBURN, Ala. – The Kentucky Softball team used a five-run top of the first inning to power past Auburn on Southeastern Conference opening night Friday, hanging on for an 8-3 road victory over the Tigers.
Kentucky bookended the game with a five-run first and a three-run seventh inning to compose the eight runs scored by the Wildcats. Four runs came via the home run and four came from run-batted in situations.
With the win, Kentucky snaps a two-season, 16-game road losing streak in the Southeastern Conference as UK is off to a 1-0 start in SEC play for the second-straight season. UK is now 19-4 on the season as the Auburn Tigers fall to 17-7 through the opening 24 games of its year.
Sarah Haendiges got the start for UK throwing the opening four innings allowing only two earned runs. Freshman Hailey Nutter then followed with a three-inning effort in relief, surrendering only two baserunners and not giving up a hit in her three innings of work and striking out four Tiger batters.
The three-game series will be concluded on Saturday with a doubleheader to try and avoid weather moving into Auburn on Sunday. The first game of the doubleheader Saturday will start at 2 p.m. ET and the second game will start 30 minutes after. Both games will air live on SEC Network+.
Run Recap
Kentucky scored five runs in the top of the first inning to make things tilt in favor of the Wildcats. Emory Donaldson scored on a busted first and third play and then Karissa Hamilton hit a three-run home run to left field to make things 5-0. Two batters later, Ella Emmert hit her first-career SEC home run to left field and Kentucky took the 5-0 lead. UK 5, AU 0
Auburn scored twice in the bottom of the first with one run coming on a sac fly and the second coming on a Kentucky fielding error. UK 5, AU 2
A lead-off double scored for Auburn un the bottom of the third. UK 5, AU 3
Peyton Plotts hammered an RBI double into right center in the top of the seventh and then Carly Sleeman blooped an RBI single into right to score Plotts as Kentucky made things 8-3. FINAL – Kentucky 8, Auburn 3
Key Player
Peyton Plotts was the key player in the game going 1-for-4 with a two-RBI double in the top of the seventh inning to score Emory Donaldson and Allie Blum with one out. The Tigers made a pitching change prior to Plotts’ RBI double that was scorched to the wall in right center.
Key Moment
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Alexa Riddel made a diving play in center field to rob the Tigers of what would have been a lead-off single, but instead turned into an out as Hailey Nutter continued to mow down the Tiger order.
Key Stat
- With the win, Kentucky snaps a two-season, 16-game road losing streak in the Southeastern Conference.
Pitching Recap
Sarah Haendiges got the start for UK throwing the opening four innings allowing only two earned runs. Freshman Hailey Nutter then followed with a three-inning effort in relief, surrendering only two baserunners and not giving up a hit in her three innings of work and striking out four Tiger batters. Haendiges is now 7-1 on the year in the circle for UK. She threw 67 pitches with 44 recorded as strikes.
For the latest on UK Softball, follow the Wildcats on Twitter and Instagram at @UKSoftball.
