Kentucky Shutout in Series Finale as No. 2 Alabama Sweeps UK
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – No. 2 Alabama shutout Kentucky 4-0 to sweep Kentucky on Sunday at Rhoads Stadium.
Alabama freshman pitcher Kaitlyn Pallozzi made her first-career Southeastern Conference start on Sunday and earned her first-ever SEC win as she threw 4.2 scoreless innings with only three hits, no walks and one strikeout. Tide ace Jocelyn Briski threw the final 2.1 innings of the game to close out the series sweep.
Kentucky will play at Louisville on Wednesday night at 6 p.m. ET with the game shown live on ACC Network Extra from Don Dobina Field at Ulmer Stadium in the Derby City.
Alabama is now 42-4 on the season overall and remains in first place in the SEC with a 15-3 record through its first six conference series. Kentucky falls to 25-25 and is 1-20 in the SEC.
Run Recap
A lead-off walk followed by a double off the bat of Alabama’s Brooke Wells made things swing in the Tide’s favor early, as UA struck for the game’s first run. ALA 1, UK 0
In the bottom of the second, it was again a lead-off walk followed by a double from Wells and then a Marlie Giles single up the middle to score two for the Tide in the second frame. ALA 3, UK 0
Alabama crossed a fourth run in the bottom of the fifth inning as a lead-off walk scored on a two-out single up the middle that crossed through the UK infield. ALA 4, UK 0
Key Player
Emory Donaldson went 2-for-3 in the game Sunday with a single into center field in the top of the third inning and a double to the left-center gap in the top of the fifth to chase Alabama starter Kaitlyn Pallozzi.
Key Moment
Brooke Wells’ RBI double to right field to score lead-off batter Alexis Pupillo, who walked three times in the game, during the top of the first inning was the key moment of the game as it eventually wound up being the game-winning run.
Key Stat
- Kentucky pitching issued seven walks in the game with four of the seven coming as lead-off walks and three of those four ended up scoring runs in the game for the Tide.
Pitching Recap
McKenzie Oslanzi started the game and went the opening two innings, allowing three runs all earned with three walks and two strikeouts. Hailey Nutter got three innings of relief to take the lift off of Oslanzi, as Nutter went for only two hits and one run in her three innings of work. Sarah Haendiges threw the final inning with one walk and one strikeout.
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