No. 16 Kentucky softball (14-5-1) opened its first SEC series of the season against No. 23 Missouri (16-7) with a 5-0 shutout win at the Mizzou Softball Stadium in Columbia, Missouri, on Friday.

Single-game strikeout leader Stephanie Schoonover would pitch a complete game for Kentucky, only surrendering two hits and recording 15 strikeouts in the process.

The Wildcats would fail to record a hit in the top of the first with the score staying even after Schoonover retired the side, recording two strikeouts to end the first inning. 

Kentucky would remain hitless in the top of the second but would keep Missouri scoreless despite a leadoff walk with Schoonover adding two more strikeouts to her tally. 

The deadlock would finally be broken in the top of the third when sophomore Taylor Ebbs sent a single into right field before advancing to second after a sacrifice bunt from redshirt freshman Jenna Blanton.

Ebbs would reach home plate after an RBI single from graduate student Kayla Kowalik, giving Kentucky a 1-0 lead.

Schoonover would hold the Tigers scoreless again in the bottom of the third despite a four-pitch walk, tacking on three more strikeouts.

Junior Erin Coffel would extend Kentucky’s lead in the top of the fourth with a leadoff home run, giving the Cats a two-run advantage.

The shutout would continue in the bottom of the fourth after Schoonover retired the first three runners she faced, adding two more strikeouts in the process. 

Another run would be added in the top of the fifth when a triple from Kowalik was followed by an RBI single from junior Vanessa Nesby.

Despite being held scoreless and Schoonover adding two more strikeouts in the bottom of the fifth, Missouri would record its first hit of the game by way of a single from junior Payton Jackson.

While Ebbs recorded her second hit of the game, Kentucky would fail to expand its lead in the top of the sixth. 

Missouri junior Alex Honnold would record the Tigers’ second hit of the game, though she wouldn’t reach home after Schoonover threw two more strikeouts to keep Mizzou scoreless in the sixth.

Kowalik would then reach scoring position by way of a single followed by a stolen base in the top of the seventh. 

After Nesby reached base with a single, Kentucky would tack on its two final runs when senior Rylea Smith hit a two-RBI single, plating Kowalik and Nesby after defensive struggles from Missouri.

Schoonover would then retire the side, recording two more strikeouts in the bottom of the seventh to give Kentucky the 5-0 win, taking a 1-0 lead in the series.  

The Wildcats will look to clinch the series as they face Missouri in game two at the Mizzou Softball Stadium in a double header on Sunday after Saturday’s scheduled game was postponed for weather.