May 20, 2018
LEXINGTON, Ky. – After a back and forth battle through the first two innings, top-seeded Kentucky finally managed to break through and find its way. The No. 19 Wildcats scored in each of the final three innings to defeat the University of Notre Dame softball team 10-0 on Saturday night during play at the NCAA Lexington Regional at John Cropp Stadium.
How It Happened
Alexis Holloway (21-14) worked through the Kentucky (33-19) order with relative ease in the top of the first inning, as Notre Dame (33-22) retired the side 1-2-3. A ground ball to Melissa Rochford at third base, a grounder to Katie Marino at second and a hot shot to MK Bonamy at first base ended the Wildcat ups.
Notre Dame looked to move into a strong attacking position with two outs in the bottom of the first inning. Morgan Reed ripped a pitch up the middle of the diamond and cruised into third base on the play after it caromed off the Kentucky shortstop. A ground ball out to third one batter later left Reed and her two-out triple stranded there.
A Kentucky throwing error with one out in the bottom of the second enabled the speedy Marino to reach first base to again light the Notre Dame fuse. A pair of ground ball outs on the infield turned aside the Irish offensive.
Facing a 3-2 count and two outs in the top of the third inning, Kentucky struck with a two-run double off the top of the fence in right to give the Wildcats a 2-0 lead. A sharp lineout into the mitt of Bonamy at first base quieted the Kentucky bats.
Kentucky ultimately struck for six runs on six hits in the top of the fourth to push its lead to 8-0, during which a Notre Dame pitching change was made. A great throw from Abby Sweet in center gunned down a Wildcat runner getting greedy for second base to end the surge.
With one away in the bottom of the fourth, Cait Brooks golfed a brisk single that nearly took off the glove of the Kentucky third baseman into left field. An inning-ending double play that went 5-4-3 turned Notre Dame aside.
Kentucky pushed its lead to 10-0 in the top of the fifth inning before Katie Beriont forced a pair of ground ball outs on the dirt to escape the jam. Notre Dame made solid contact around the infield in the bottom of the fifth, but Kentucky was able to retire the Irish side to lock down the victory.
Up Next
Notre Dame and Michigan meet on Sunday at noon (ET) for the second time during the NCAA Lexington Regional. The Irish previously defeated the No. 17 Wolverines 4-1 on Friday.