The No. 13 UK softball team (21-10, 6-3 SEC) got swept by the Missouri Tigers (16-12, 5-4 SEC) at home after an 8-4 loss on Sunday afternoon – the first time this season the Cats have been swept.

Cats pitching ace Autumn Humes (7-5) received the loss after earning four runs and gave up eight hits in four innings. That’s tied for the most runs she’s earned in a game this year.

The Tigers picked back up where they left off Saturday and drew first blood in the second inning. First baseman Kolby Romaine slapped a two-RBI single to make the score 2-0 Tigers.

But the Cats got on their feet and responded right back that same inning. Third baseman Abbey Cheek hit a one-run home run to put the Cats on the board and cut the Tigers lead to 2-1. Cheek now has 50 home runs, extending her record for the most home runs all-time by a Wildcat.

Missouri continued to exploit Humes in the third inning. Third baseman Kim Wert blasted a two-run home run to increase the Tigers’ lead to 4-1.

The Tigers had some more fun with a scoring fiesta an inning later to try and put the game away. Outfielder Brooke Wilmes popped an RBI single to make it 5-1 Tigers. Wert drove in some more runs after she thumped an RBI double to increase the lead to 7-1. She finished the series with 9 RBIs.

Tatum Spangler later came in to replace Humes. In one inning pitched, she allowed one hit and one run. Grace Baalman, who received yesterday’s loss, also came in to provide some relief. She pitched the last two innings and didn’t earn any runs.

UK showed no signs of defeat in the fourth inning though. Designated player Lauren Johnson smacked an RBI single to cut the Tigers’ lead to 7-2. She finished the day 2-for-3 at the plate. Outfielder Sarah Rainwater hit another RBI single, but she was thrown out at second after going for extra bases.

The Cats seemed pumped off that inning. Shortstop Katie Reed drove an RBI double down the line in the fifth inning to cut the Tigers’ lead to 7-4. But the comeback was short lived after Reed was thrown out at third after tagging at second base to end the inning. 

Missouri catcher Hatti Moore added an insurance run in the sixth inning to make it 8-4. UK’s offense failed to put anything else together for a comeback.

Tigers’ relief pitcher Eli Daniel provided effective relief for starting pitcher Madi Norman (7-5), who got the win. She provided no-hit, scoreless pitching in the final three innings.

UK will get some rest tomorrow before it hosts the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers on Tuesday, March 26^th at 6 p.m.