Bulldogs spoil softball’s Senior Day with 16 hits to sweep weekend series

By Bobby Reagan

Sunday was supposed to be a day of celebration for the UK softball team, as its seniors played in Lexington for one last time. But Georgia wasted little time crashing the party, smashing 16 hits to the tune of a 9-4 win.

Shortly after seniors Audrey Meyer, Ashley Dimkich, Samantha Allen, Megan Jolly and Lindsay Brogdon were honored, the Bulldogs struck with two runs in the top of the first. Despite falling behind early, the Cats (17-34, 3-22 Southeastern Conference) fought back to tie the score up in the third inning.

Though Georgia retook the lead in the top of the fourth and never trailed from that point on, head coach Rachel Lawson said she was happy with the way her team was able to fight back and challenge the Bulldogs.

“I was extremely happy with the way Ashley Dimkich and Audrey Meyer played today on their Senior Day,” Lawson said. “I thought the rest of the kids fought hard for them, even though we let it get out of hand in one inning.”

The two seniors were able to provide numbers on the field yesterday, as Meyer went 1-for-2 with two walks and Dimkich reached base twice on two walks. Both seniors scored a run as well, accounting for half of UK’s total offensive production for the day.

After going up by one with a run in the fourth, Georgia added three runs in the fifth to take a 6-2 lead. The Cats cut the lead to 6-4 behind three walks and one hit in the bottom half.

Lawson was pleased with the comeback of the whole team, after losing 10-0 and 7-3 to the Bulldogs (42-19, 13-12 SEC) in a doubleheader Saturday. She credited the seniors’ leadership, both on and off the diamond, for the grit she said the Cats showed all season.

“Dimkich is a great leader and is a hard-worker, both in the classroom and on the field,” Lawson said. “Audrey and Ashley both put in their full effort in practice and during the game, I couldn’t have asked for better seniors.”

Dimkich said yesterday’s Senior Day game was unlike any other because it was such an emotional day.

“It was definitely the game I had the most nerves for,” Dimkich said. “I think all of us cried before the game, and then after the game we got back to being emotional.”

Georgia added a score in the sixth and two in the seventh to produce the final margin. Despite what has been a rough season for the Cats, Dimkich said she will never forget the memories in Lexington and thinks UK can be a force in the SEC in the years to come.

“The fans in Kentucky are starting to back UK softball,” Dimkich said. “In the years, to come this environment will keep getting better, and the talent will keep rising as well.”