The University of Kentucky women’s softball team opened up at the 2024 Wings Ect. Classic in Spartanburg South Carolina and the 13th ranked Wildcats did not disappoint, with back to back wins over the Akron Zips and the host, USC Upstate Spartans.
The Wildcats opened the event with a 7-3 victory over Akron. Jaden Vickers shined on the mound, giving up only three runs on five hits over six innings, with 12 strikeouts and no walks on the day. Grace Lorsung got the scoring started for the Wildcats in the bottom of the first with a three-run home run. Kentucky would add another run in the first and the Zips would score one in the second. Kentucky then pulled away in the fifth when Ally Hutchins hit a two-run home run and Taylor Ebbs hit a solo home run to make it 7-1. Stephanie Schoonover came in and got the save at the end.
Kentucky then went on to beat host USC Upstate in the evening game 9-0 in five innings. Stephanie Schoonover pitched a five inning shutout, giving up one hit, one walk and striking out eight. Erin Coffel opened the game with a leadoff home run to give the Cats the 1-0 lead. Then in the top of the second, Coffel would hit a two-RBI double and later score to make it 4-0 Cats. Kentucky would put three more runs on the board in the third inning before Freshman Peyton Plotts hit her first career home run in the fifth to make it a 9-0 game and induce the run rule.
The Wildcats play two more games on Saturday, facing Monmouth at 10 a.m. EST and then playing Akron again at 12:30 p.m. EST.