Grand slam lifts UK past Ole Miss

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By Sam Ranard

Molly Johnson wasn’t thinking home run when she stepped to the plate with bases loaded. In fact, she wasn’t even thinking about a hit.

With the UK softball team tied 0-0 on Sunday against Mississippi, Johnson came up to bat hoping for a sacrifice fly and driving in one run. And then just like that it was a 4-0 lead for the Cats (24-13, 7-8 Southeastern Conference) as Johnson belted a grand slam en route to a 7-5 victory.

“I am always confident in Molly when she comes to bat,” UK head coach Rachel Lawson said. “It was a big hit when we needed it the most.”

The UK softball team waits to celebrate with Molly Johnson after she hit a grand slam in the fourth inning during UK’s 7-5 win on Sunday over Mississippi. Photo by Allie Garza | Staff

The grand slam by Johnson, who started her 142nd consecutive game, was only the start to the big fourth inning for the Cats, as they put seven runs on the board. Four batters later, UK had the bases loaded again.
This time freshman Rachel Riley delivered as she pulled a hit to the third baseman. Ole Miss (16-18, 4-12 SEC) third baseman Ashley Dowdy missed the tag of Megan Aull before throwing the ball to the backstop allowing Aull and Megan Yocke to score.

Junior pitcher Amber Matousek made sure to put the Cats in position to win as she gave up just one run through six innings. However, there was a scare in the top of the seventh inning as Matousek gave up four runs to cut the lead to 7-5.

But, with two outs and the tying run at home plate, Matousek was able to preserve the win and improve to 7-3 on the season, with a 3.91 ERA, as she got Alyssa McGovern to ground out to Johnson.

Despite the late-inning run by the Rebels, Lawson said she planned on leaving Matousek in the game because she had confidence she would be able to calm herself down and get the win.

“I never planned on taking her out,” Lawson said. “She wasn’t doing what she did well, she just needed to relax.”

As Matousek relaxed and got the win, it was something Lawson said the Cats need to do if they want to reach their ultimate goal of the season — play in the postseason.

“Ole Miss is a good team,” Lawson said. “Anytime we match up with a team we have a chance to win, and in order for us to achieve our goal of postseason play we need to win a series like this.”