Kentucky softball (2-0) picked up its second win of the day with a dominant 12-4 victory over Notre Dame (0-2). The Wildcats held an eight-run lead in the bottom of the fifth to end the game after five innings.
This game was one of five the Wildcats will play this weekend as part of the 2025 NFCA Lead-off Classic in Clearwater, Florida. Kentucky was the home team in this game.
The first two hitters of the game reached on errors, then stole to advance into scoring position with no outs. Addison Amaral singled down the line to score both runners, giving the Fighting Irish a 2-0 lead before recording an out.
The Wildcats settled in and recorded three outs without allowing any further damage, leaving two Notre Dame runners stranded.
Ally Hutchins doubled to start the bottom of the first, then scored when McKenzie Bump singled and advanced to second on the throw. Allie Blum reached first with a single, getting Bump to third. Both runners advanced on a passed ball, bringing Bump across the plate for the Wildcats’ second run.
Peyton Plotts walked to join Blum on the bases. Both scored on a double down the left-field line by Cassie Reasner, who advanced to third on an error. The Wildcats scored four runs from their first five batters before recording an out.
Lauryn Borzilleri reached on balls, followed by Karissa Hamilton being hit by a pitch to load the bases. Emory Donaldson singled to score Reasner, then Hutchins walked to score Borzilleri and keep the bases loaded.
Blum singled up the middle for her second hit of the inning, scoring Hamilton and Hutchins. Plotts singled to load the bases again.
Kentucky then recorded its third out, leaving bases loaded. The Wildcat offense piled on eight runs to erase the consequence of early defensive lapses, giving Kentucky an 8-2 lead after one inning.
Notre Dame made two pitching changes in the first inning, finally having success with its third pitcher, Kami Kamzik.
Kentucky tightened up defensively in the second inning, forcing three straight infield outs from Notre Dame hitters to end the inning.
Kentucky continued to extend its lead in the bottom of the second. Borzilleri walked and Delani Sullivan singled before Hutchins singled up the middle to score both runners and push the Wildcats to a 10-2 lead after two innings.
Sydney Langdon continued to cause problems for the Notre Dame hitters in the top of the third, retiring three straight batters for the second consecutive inning.
The Wildcat offense stalled in the bottom of the third, failing to score a run and stranding a runner on second. Kentucky held on to its 10-2 lead after the third inning.
After retiring eight consecutive Notre Dame hitters, Langdon conceded back-to-back walks. Both runners advanced into scoring position on a groundout. The Wildcats then made a two-out error, allowing both runners to score before recording the third out, bringing the score to 10-4.
Donaldson led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a single into left field, Bump was hit by a pitch and Blum walked to load the bases. Plotts walked to score Donaldson before a flyout ended the inning. The Wildcats left bases loaded for the second time in four innings, but got a run back regardless.
Kentucky made a pitching change in the top of the fifth inning as Oregon State transfer Sarah Haendiges made her Kentucky debut in relief of Langdon, who allowed two runs over four innings of work. Haendiges made quick work of the Fighting Irish, retiring three straight.
Kentucky’s 11-4 lead in the bottom of the fifth meant the Wildcats just needed to scratch one run across to secure the victory.
Borzilleri, Hamilton and Sullivan hit three consecutive singles to load the bases with no outs. Donaldson walked it off with a bloop single into center field that scored Borzilleri.
Donaldson’s walk-off was the perfect ending for her great day. Over both games on Friday, she went 5-6 with a double and triple. She also scored four runs and drove in four. Those five hits were the first of her career.
The Wildcats battled through a disastrous start and put together a dominant offensive performance. All nine Kentucky starters recorded at least one hit and scored at least one run, totaling in 12 runs on 15 hits and nine walks.
Langdon and Haendiges both pitched well despite defensive struggles. The pair were only responsible for two runs and held Notre Dame to just two hits.
This victory was the second of the day for the Wildcats and they will play two more games tomorrow on Saturday, Feb. 7. The first game is at noon ET against Morgan State, followed by Southern Miss at 3 p.m. Both games will be streamed on the Kentucky softball’s Gamechanger page.
