UK Softball holds off last-inning rally, advances to regional final

The UK Softball team was leading 7-1 heading into the final inning, primed for a big upset over No. 10 Michigan. Then things got tense.

UK’s Chanda Bell pitched six innings, giving up only one run until a shaky seventh inning. Michigan plated five runs, including a grand slam, to cut the UK lead to one. Rachel Riley then entered the game and recorded three outs to complete the upset.

The win advances UK to the regional final on Sunday. A win there and UK would go to its first Super Regional in school history.

Whoever advances from the loser’s section — which would be Michigan again, Notre Dame or Western Michigan — would have to beat UK twice in the final due to the double-elimination format. UK would only have to win one of the possible two games on Sunday to advance. Here’s a clearer picture of the bracket.

courtesy of NCAA.com