In the second game of the day for the I-75 Tournament, Kentucky softball (7-5) defeated Georgia Tech 10-0 in five innings.
This game was a revival of the Wildcats’ offense, which had gone seven games without scoring more than seven runs, going 2-5 in that stretch.
The stellar offensive performance was just half of the Wildcats’ dominant victory. They were also driven by Alexia Lacatena throwing five scoreless innings.
The Wildcats completely dominated Georgia Tech on both sides and the final score reflected that.
Both teams got out to a slow start: the tie at zero remained through two innings and each team had just one runner reach base.
Kentucky busted the game open in the top of the third. Delani Sullivan and McKenzie Bump walked and Ally Hutchins singled to load the bases with two outs. Peyton Plotts reached on an error to score all three runners.
Hallie Mitchell singled to advance Plotts to third base, and Plotts scored when Lauryn Borzilleri reached on an error. This gave Kentucky a 4-0 lead heading into the bottom of the third inning.
The Yellow Jacket offense appeared to arrive in the third inning as well: Georgia Tech hit two singles and both runners advanced into scoring position with two outs on a passed ball.
Lacatena escaped the jam with an inning-ending groundout to strand the runners on second and third.
Sullivan’s solo home run provided the Wildcats’ only run in the top of the fourth inning. This was the sophomore’s first collegiate home run.
Georgia Tech remained scoreless in the bottom of the fourth inning, going three-up, three-down for the second time in four innings.
The Yellow Jackets brought in a new pitcher in the top of the fifth, and the Wildcats jumped all over her.
Plotts walked before Mitchell reached on an error and Borzilleri doubled down the third base line to score Plotts and advance Mitchell to third.
Karissa Hamilton then pinch-hit for Cassie Reasner and her single scored Mitchell and advanced Borzilleri to third base.
Anna Mauck pinch-hit Emory Donaldson and walked to load the bases with one out. This forced the second pitching change of the inning for Georgia Tech.
All three runners advanced on a wild pitch, bringing Borzilleri across the plate. Allie Blum rounded off the inning by reaching on an error to score both runners.
The Wildcats’ five-run fifth inning gave them a 10-0 lead, meaning Georgia Tech needed at least three runs in the fifth to avoid the mercy rule.
Lacatena surrendered a leadoff single, but forced the next hitter to ground into a double play. She then struck out the next hitter for the third out, ending the game.
Lacatena now has two complete game shutouts in four starts this season. She has thrown 23.2 innings with an ERA of 1.18, 15 strikeouts and just two walks.
Kentucky found the team hitting it had been lacking in its last few games as its ten runs came from nine different players. The Wildcats only had five hits, but reaching on walks and errors allowed for a higher run output than five hits would usually indicate.
Kentucky will continue the 2025 I-75 tournament with two games on Saturday, Feb. 21. The first game of the day will be at noon ET against Memphis, followed by a rematch with Georgia Tech at 3:30 p.m. The first game will not be shown live, but the second will be streamed on ACC Network Extra.
