The No. 18 Kentucky softball team battled it out against the top-ranked UCLA Bruins in the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic on Friday night, in a thrilling game that had fans on the edge of their seats until the very end. Despite bringing the tying run to the plate in both the fifth and seventh innings, Kentucky ultimately fell 6-3 to the undefeated Bruins.
The Wildcats outperformed UCLA at the plate, outhitting them eight to six and forcing ace Megan Faraimo to come into the game for her first save of the season. Erin Coffel came within inches of hitting a game-tying three-run home run in the fifth inning, while Grace Lorsung hit her second home run of the season. Rylea Smith and Vanessa Nesby also had two-hit nights to lead the Wildcats’ offense.
Kentucky utilized three different pitchers throughout the game, with Izzy Harrison starting but only lasting 0.2 innings and suffering the loss. Sloan Gayan pitched 1.1 innings and struck out one batter, while Kennedy Sullivan shone in the circle for UK, throwing 4.0 innings against the nation’s top-scoring offense and allowing just two runs on four hits with no walks and a strikeout.
Despite the result, Kentucky put in a valiant effort against UCLA and fell to a record of 9-2-1. The Bruins remain undefeated with a record of 14-0 and are one of only three undefeated teams remaining in college softball.
The key plays of the game were the fifth and seventh innings, where Kentucky brought the tying run to the plate. Meanwhile, Kennedy Sullivan was the standout player of the game, throwing 4.0 innings in the circle and not walking a single batter. Five different Kentucky players recorded at least one hit in the contest, with Rylea Smith and Vanessa Nesby leading the way with two hits apiece.
In terms of the game’s run recap, UCLA got off to an early lead in the first inning with an RBI single and walks. Kentucky responded in the second inning with a home run by Grace Lorsung, but UCLA scored twice more in the same inning due to a UK error. The Bruins extended their lead to five runs in the fourth inning with a Maya Brady RBI double, and while Kentucky managed to score twice in the fifth inning, they ultimately fell to the Bruins with a final score of 6-3.
Despite the loss, Kentucky can hold their heads high after putting in a strong performance against one of the best teams in college softball. Fans will undoubtedly be eagerly awaiting the Wildcats’ next game to see what they have in store.
