Softball wins home series over Arkansas
Shortstop Christian Stokes turns a double play during the game between the University of Kentucky softball team vs. University of Arkansas at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, Ky.,on Saturday, April 19, 2014. Photo by Michael Reaves
April 21, 2014
By Justin Chartrand
UK softball started Sunday’s matchup with Arkansas (26-22, 4-14 SEC) like it did on Friday and Saturday. The No. 10 Cats were once again trailing 3-0, but this time, there was no surging comeback.
UK (38-9, 12-6 SEC) had a nine-game winning streak entering Sunday’s game. It was snapped as the Cats suffered their first run-rule loss of the season, 8-0, to the Razorbacks.
The Cats struggled from the plate, going 3-for-21 in the loss.
“We didn’t do a very good job adjusting to the pitcher or the umpire,” UK head coach Rachel Lawson said. “I just felt like we were a little tentative. We were on our heels a little bit and we let (Arkansas freshman pitcher Grace Moll) get ahead in the count and we didn’t go deep in very many counts either.”
The Razorbacks teed off on freshman pitcher Shannon Smith, plating four runs in the first two innings.
UK freshman pitcher Meagan Prince came on in relief in the top of the fourth inning and allowed four runs in the top of the sixth, putting Arkansas in prime position to complete its run-rule win.
Sophomore pitcher Kelsey Nunley was the key to the Cats’ victories on Friday and Saturday, entering as a reliever in both games.
“Nunley is incredibly strong; she is very tough. I mean her best asset is that she can locate, she knows how to attack the zone,” Lawson said. “She is one of the reasons why we won the series.”
Nunley marched the Cats to victory, tossing six strikeouts and allowing only two runs and eight hits in the 10 innings she pitched.
The Cats took advantage of Nunley’s strong relief as sophomore infielder Nikki Sagermann smashed home runs in both games and batted .600 at the plate.
“As a team, Friday and Saturday’s wins were pretty big,” Sagermann said. “Obviously (Sunday) didn’t go as we would have liked it to, but Arkansas is a really great ball club and it’s hard to beat a team three times in a row.”
The Cats are gearing up to hit the road as they face in-state rival Western Kentucky on Tuesday before coming home Friday to face No. 4 Tennessee in a three-game series at John Cropp Stadium.
“I’m excited — (we) just got to live to play and get after it,” Sagermann said. “It’s going to be a fun week.”
