Kentucky softball (23-19, 1-14 SEC) took down Eastern Kentucky (18-19, 7-4 ASUN) by a score of 5-2.
The Cats were led by an outstanding showing by Carly Sleeman at the plate. Sleeman went 2-for-3 on the night with two home runs and an intentional walk.
She has been on base in 14 of her last 15 games, extending her hitting streak to five games.
“I just go up there and have fun. If I happen to get on base, happy to be on base,” Sleeman said. “I just want to show people how much I love softball.”
Sleeman bounced around to different spots in the batting order before settling down in the leadoff spot in game two of the Texas A&M series in mid-March.
“I was so excited, I’ve been a lead off before in high school,” Sleeman said. “I just think it’s really fun just being able to go out first at bat and just set the tone.”
She has hit third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh in the lineup at different times this season, but she has led off for 12 straight games.
“Carly’s a really dynamic player,” Kentucky head coach Rachel Lawson said. “We needed that kind of energy at the top of the order.”
Sleeman’s first home run, a towering shot well over the center field wall, placed her standing alone at the top of the team’s home run leader board.
Her second homer, a line drive off the left field foul pole, extended her lead. She finished the night with 11 home runs, elevating her over Karissa Hamilton and Peyton Plotts who are tied with nine.
“Anytime your leadoff batter is doing that kind of stuff, you know, it gives you a chance,” Lawson said. “[It] really, really helps give energy to the lineup. Hopefully it will start turning things around in league play.”
Sleeman not only lead the team in home runs, but she is the first Cat to break the .400 batting average mark since conference play started in early March, hitting .404 after her great day against the Colonels.
Lawson said Sleeman’s place in the order helps benefit the lineup as a whole. Teams have to pitch to her, and she finds her way on base, helping the rest of the lineup.
“When she goes up there, you always have hope something good is going to happen,” Lawson said. “It’s really helped the batters who are behind her. It helped [Emory] Donaldson today, helped [Allie] Blum in the Oklahoma series.”
Sleeman, a Central Michigan transfer, is having a career year, posting the best batting average of her career in her first year in Lexington.
Sleeman hit .373 for the Chippewas last season, tallying 17 home runs and 50 RBIs. This season she’s already up to 11 home runs and 34 RBIs against SEC competition, with 12 games still left on the schedule.
