UK SB: No. 12 Kentucky Splits at Ohio Powered by Abbey Cheek’s Homer

Powered by Abbey Cheek’s second home run in the last three games, freshman slugger Abbey Cheek clubbed her fifth home run in the top of the first inning of the second game of a doubleheader, which would be all the No. 12 Kentucky pitching staff would need to take one game from the Bobcats in a doubleheader in Athens on Tuesday afternoon.

Kentucky would take game two, 3-1, after dropping a 1-0 extra-inning affair in the opening game of the doubleheader. The Wildcats are now 31-5 on the season with the 1-1 day on the road in Athens, and remain at 8-1 in Southeastern Conference play, tied atop the standings with Florida in the league through three weeks of play.
UK hosts No. 3 Auburn for a three-game series this weekend at John Cropp Stadium in Lexington, with nearly 1,000 tickets sold for the games this weekend already. Fans should contact the UK Ticket Office at 859-257-3838 if they are interested in the remaining tickets for the series, which are going fast.
Game 1 – Ohio 1, Kentucky 0
Key Stat
One. Kentucky was held to a season-low one hit in the game, which was a Nikki Sagermann double in the fourth inning to lead off the inning.
Key Play
With a runner on third and two outs in the inning, Ohio won the game on a walk-off defensive error by the Wildcats producing the only run in the game.
Key Player
Kelsey Nunley was the key player in the game, pitching 7.1 scoreless innings in the game, keeping UK in the contest despite the lackluster offense. Nunley had eight strikeouts and just one walk
Run Recap
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Ohio plated the winning run playing small ball, to pick up the win. Michaela Dorsey led off the frame with a single up the middle to give OU a leadoff baserunner in the inning. After a flyout to left and a stolen base, Dorsey moved to third with one out. Meagan Prince then entered the game with one out, and got a groudout to first to move the runner to third and record the second out of the inning. Center fielder Deanna Cole then stepped up with two strikes and was safe at first on an error and walked off Dorsey with the game-winning run. FINAL – Ohio 1, No. 12 Kentucky 0
Game 2 –
Key Stat
14. Meagan Prince recorded her team-leading 14th win of the season, as she has now started the season 14-0 becoming the first UK pitcher to ever win 14 consecutive games.
Key Play
Abbey Cheek hit a three-run home run in the top of the first inning with Nikki Sagermann and Brooklin Hinz on the basepaths. Sagermann had a one-out single up the middle, and Hinz walked on five pitches before Cheek powered one over the wall in right center to score the game-winning runs.
Key Player
Shannon Smith was the key player in the game, going 3.1 innings only allowing two hits and one walk, while striking out two batters was key in the middle part of the game.
Run Recap
Abbey Cheek hit a three-run home run in the top of the first inning with Nikki Sagermann and Brooklin Hinz on the basepaths. Sagermann had a one-out single up the middle, and Hinz walked on five pitches before Cheek powered one over the wall in right center to score the game-winning runs. FINAL – No. 12 Kentucky 3, Ohio 1
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Chris Shoals
UK Media Relations