Kentucky softball finishes John Cropp Classic undefeated, defeats Michigan 2-1
Kentucky Wildcats pitcher Stephanie Schoonover (23) celebrates a strike during the No. 16 Kentucky vs. Dayton softball home opener game on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, Kentucky. Kentucky won 5-4. Photo by Samuel Colmar | Staff
March 22, 2023
Kentucky Softball (19-5-1) rode the back of a dominant pitching performance to increase its winning streak to eight straight as it defeated the Michigan Wolverines (13-11) by a score of 2-1 on Sunday.
The Wildcats ace, junior Stephanie Schoonover, took the mound and did not come off of it until the final out of the game as she threw all seven innings for the Wildcats.
The only blemish on her afternoon came in the first inning after she had gotten out the first two hitters before the third hitter for the Wolverines sent a home run over the center field wall.
After retiring the side in order in the second inning she had some traffic on the bases in the third, but battled her way out as she forced the baserunners to be stranded.
Schoonover really settled in after the third inning as she faced the minimum and didn’t allow another base runner in the game, retiring the final 14 batters in her complete game effort.
Schoonover finished her day giving up one run on two hits and one walk. She also struck out 10 batters during her performance, finishing as the pitcher of record, receiving the win and bringing her record to 11-1 on the season.
The Wildcat offense was kept off the scoreboard for six innings of the game, but one inning of scoring was enough to give it the win.
The third inning would open with a strikeout, which would bring junior Erin Coffel to the plate, with Coffel sending a home run over the center field wall to tie the game at 1-1. The home run tied Brittany Cervantes for second all-time in home runs for Kentucky Softball.
Graduate student Kennedy Sullivan was next to bat after a groundout and she would see four pitches, which were all out of the zone and would put her on first base with a walk.
Junior Meeko Harrison was next, and she was hit by a pitch in her at bat to also put her on base.
With two runners on following the walk and hit by pitch, the Wildcats were now in prime position to take the lead and they would do just that as junior Grace Lorsung would send a single into center field and bring home Sullivan and give the Wildcats the decisive 2-1 score.
Lorsung and all-time hits leader Kayla Kowalik both had two hits apiece and were responsible for four of the six hits for the Wildcats.
With the win the Wildcats will have a bit of a layoff before they resume play on Friday, March 24, as they look to make it nine straight when they play the Texas A&M Aggies in a weekend series at John Cropp Stadium. First pitch for Friday is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST.
