Kentucky softball (17-6) completed the last game of its SEC opening series versus Missouri (11-13) with a 9-6 win, giving it a sweep to start SEC play and extending its win streak to seven.
With the SEC being the best conference, having the top five teams and 13 top 25 teams, Head Coach Rachel Lawson thought it was big to get the sweep
“It’s awesome, you know, wins are so hard to come by in this league, so anytime you can just win in general it’s great,” Lawson said. “And you know, I’m just really happy for the team.”
For Kentucky, it was a two-headed monster in catcher Karissa Hamilton, who had two extra-base hits, one of which was a home run, and three RBI. Her co-star was shortstop Cassie Reasner, who had three hits, one of which was a home run, and five RBI.
It was Missouri who started things off in the top of the first as the first batter of the game, Julia Crenshaw, took Carson Fall deep to start the game.
That lead was short-lived when Hamilton hit a home run in the bottom half of the first, tying the game at 1-1.
Fall had trouble in this game. In the second inning, she let up a lead-off walk, followed by an RBI double and a hit batter, forcing Lawson to take her out of the game after less than two innings pitched.
Madyson Clark came into the game and didn’t allow any earned runs herself, but the Tigers tallied one more run, making the score 3-1.
Kentucky was able to cut the lead in half after a sacrifice fly hit by Allie Blum.
Clark prevented the Tigers from adding to their lead in the third, retiring batters in order.
After a walk and a hit-by-pitch in the bottom half of the third, Reasner gave Kentucky its first lead of the game after her home run.
Clark continued to find her groove, preventing a single hit from the Tigers in the fourth, keeping the lead for the Cats.
In the bottom half, Reasner gave the keys back to Hamilton as she hit a two-run RBI double, extending Kentucky’s lead to 7-3. Later on in the inning, Reasner came up with two outs and runners on and hit a single up the middle, adding two more runs for Kentucky.
Things remained quiet until the top of the sixth when Missouri started to rally.
After not allowing a run in three straight innings, Missouri took Clark deep to start the sixth. After an error and a double, Lawson made another move to the bullpen. Julie Kelley walked the first two batters she faced and then allowed a single, making the score 9-6. The Cats got a force-out at home and then got a pop-out.
With the lead runner at the plate and two outs, Lawson decided to bring in one of Kentucky’s star pitchers, Sarah Haendiges. Haendiges did her job, recording a strikeout and keeping the lead for Kentucky.
“She’s just so tough. She just, you know, she knows what to do,” Lawson said about bringing in Haendiges. “She has a knack. She knows how to change speed. She knows how to go for the kill. She’s just a really really good pitcher.”
Haendiges came back out for the seventh inning and closed the game for Kentucky giving, it a 9-6 win and completing the sweep.
Kentucky will next be in action Wednesday, March 12, when it takes on Virginia Tech at John Cropp Stadium at 5 p.m.
