UK softball falls 5-1 at Louisville

Staff report | @KYKernelNews

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No. 20 UK softball fell to its in-state rival, No. 11 Louisville, 5-1 on Wednesday at Ulmer Stadium in Louisville. The Cardinals now lead the all-time series 18-13 and have won the last eight games at home.

UK (24-10) scored its lone run when junior Krystal Smith hit her second double of the season in the top of the sixth inning, driving in freshman Sylver Samuel from second base.

Junior Lauren Cumbess started as pitcher for the Cats, allowing two hits and three runs and striking out one in two innings of work.

The Cardinals (29-6) got on the scoreboard in the second inning, when sophomore Kayla Soles hit a three-run homerun to give Louisville a 3-0 lead.

Freshman Kelsey Nunley relieved Cumbess to start the third inning and finished the game for UK, allowing two runs on three hits and striking out two. Cumbess received the loss, moving her record to 6-3 this season.

Louisville’s junior pitcher Caralisa Connell shut down the Cats, going the distance and allowing only two hits while striking out four batters. UK was hitless before Samuel’s infield single in the sixth inning. Connell is now 19-2 on the season.

UK and Louisville will play in Lexington on April 24 at 6 p.m. The Cardinals lead the all-time series in Lexington 9-6.

The Cats will now return to SEC play and travel to South Carolina for a three-game weekend series. First pitches are scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, 4 p.m. on  Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday.

UK is back in action in Lexington on April 9 to play Marshall in a game rescheduled from an earlier rainout, followed by a trip to play a doubleheader at Eastern Kentucky.