No. 24 Kentucky softball (11-6) went 1-1 in its two games on Friday against Evansville (9-6) and Western Kentucky (10-5).
The Cats lost their first game of the day to Evansville by a score of 7-5.
Evansville started the game red hot, scoring seven runs in the first inning. The Aces were led by freshmen Jenna Donohoo and Eliza Piggott, who both had two RBI in the inning, with Piggott hitting a two-run homer to cap off the inning.
The Cats responded in the second inning with a bases-clearing double by sophomore Emory Donaldson.
Despite holding Evansville scoreless for the rest of the game and a solid five-strikeout performance from pitcher Alexia Lacatena, the Cats only put up two more runs, falling to the Aces 7-5.
Evansville’s win over Kentucky is its first over a ranked opponent since 2007.
Kentucky’s second game of the day went better as it defeated Western Kentucky by a score of 7-5.
The Hilltoppers got things started in the bottom of the second inning when a fly-out by freshman Kennedy Stinson allowed sophomore Annie White to score from third.
Kentucky remained scoreless until sophomores Peyton Plotts and Ally Hutchins hit back-to-back home runs to give the Cats a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning.
The Hilltoppers were able to shorten the lead in the same inning with a home run of their own by freshman Katie Murphy.
Later in the sixth inning, Western Kentucky managed to take the lead after a double by sophomore Kendle White brought two runs in, followed by a walk with the bases loaded that made the score 5-4.
With the game on the line in the top of the seventh, Plotts was able to come through again, this time with an RBI double that tied the game.
Following that, junior Lauryn Borzilleri hit a go-ahead single to give the Cats a 7-5 lead.
Western Kentucky failed to score any runs in the final frame, giving the Cats the 7-5 victory.
Kentucky will be back in action for another double-header this Saturday, with Tennessee Tech as its first opponent. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. ET.
