For just the second time since 2014, Kentucky softball (15-6, 1-0 SEC) had its home opener against a conference opponent. The Wildcats defeated Missouri (11-11, 0-1 SEC) 6-4 in game one of their first home series.
Kentucky came away victorious in its long-awaited home opener after playing 20 consecutive games on the road to start the season.
“Anytime you can play in front of your crowd in this gorgeous stadium… it just means a lot,” Head Coach Rachel Lawson said. “Just to be home feels awesome.”
This was just the second time since 2014 that Kentucky had its home opener against a conference opponent. The win puts Kentucky ahead 14-13 in the all-time series with Missouri.
Sarah Haendiges played a crucial role in the Wildcats’ victory. She entered from the bullpen in the top of the fifth inning and pitched 2.1 scoreless innings to fend off the Tiger offense.
Haendiges has been reliable out of the bullpen all season and, after the game, she has a 1.59 ERA through 26.1 innings with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 4.6. This has led her to a 4-1 record, despite having just one start.
“Sarah, to kind of close it out the way she did, showed a lot of toughness,” Lawson said.
Each team put a runner in scoring position in the first inning, but neither could bring them in. Missouri had a one-out triple, but Kentucky starter Alexia Lacatena closed the door. McKenzie Bump and Allie Blum led off with back-to-back full-count walks, but both were stranded.
Both teams did take advantage of their opportunities in the second inning.
Former Wildcat Taylor Ebbs led off the inning with a hit-by-pitch. Ebbs scored on a triple off the center field wall, giving the Tigers a 1-0 lead. But, the lead didn’t last as Hallie Mitchell led off the bottom of the second with a double into right-center field. Bump scored Mitchell with a two-out RBI single, tying it up through two innings.
Missouri scratched another run across in the top of the third with a solo home run to center field.
Lauryn Borzilleri and Peyton Plotts led the bottom of the inning with back-to-back singles. Cassie Reasner followed with a three-RBI home run to left-center field, giving Kentucky a 4-2 lead.
The shot was the seventh career home run for Reasner, with four this season. It was the first of those at John Cropp Stadium.
Lacatena put an end to the Tigers’ scoring streak in the top of the fourth, retiring the side in order.
The Wildcats kept scoring in the bottom of the inning as Bump reached on a single and scored on a double from Borzilleri. This extended the Kentucky lead to 5-2 through four innings.
The Tigers threatened to come back in the fifth inning. A Wildcat error allowed a runner to reach base, with that runner later scoring on a double.
This run forced the first Kentucky pitching change of the game. Carson Fall replaced Lacatena out of the bullpen.
Two passed balls allowed the runner to score from second, then Fall walked the first and only batter she faced.
Coach Lawson decided to make another pitching change after allowing another run to score and putting a runner on.
This is when Haendiges entered the game, shutting down the Missouri offense for the rest of the game.
Kentucky added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth with a bases-loaded walk. The Wildcats left bases loaded, but held a 6-4 lead heading into the final frame.
“In the SEC, every team that we play is great, they can all score runs,” Lawson said. “We know that you’ve got to score runs.”
That score turned final when Haendiges recorded three outs from four hitters to end the game.
The win marked five straight and puts Kentucky among five teams tied for first in the SEC after one conference game.
“We’re (team) really close this year,” Reasner said. “Being able to come back home, show out and play our best was really fun.”
The Wildcats will continue their series against Missouri on Saturday, March 7, with the first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m. The SEC Network+ will broadcast the game live.
