CELINA, Texas – Kentucky pitcher Stephanie Schoonover threw her third-career no-hitter and set a new Kentucky record with 18 strikeouts in a game as No. 15 UK beat No. 22 North Texas 4-0 and shutout South Dakota 9-0 in five innings Saturday evening.
Schoonover threw 107 pitches in the game, walking just two batters, her first two walks surrendered this season, and struck out 18. The infield for Kentucky only was forced to make one play, and it was a groundball to Margaret Tobias to end the game in the seventh inning. Jenna Blanton in CF and Vanessa Nesby in LF each recorded an out, with all 18 of the other outs in the game coming via a strikeout.
Schoonover struck out the first nine batters of the game before a defensive miscue spoiled the perfect game. The first four innings were all innings in which she struck out the side, as 16 of the first 17 outs in the game were strikeouts. 12 of Schoonover’s strikeouts were swinging and six were looking.
Erin Coffel had the biggest play of Saturday night’s top-25 showdown with a three-run home run in the top of the third inning to etch the Wildcats ahead of the Mean Green, 3-0. Coffel delivered a 3-1 offering over the fence into left center with Jenna Blanton and Kayla Kowalik on base to push UK in front as her fourth homer of the season flew high over the wall. Jenna Blanton’s RBI single was the other offensive output for the Wildcats in the top of the sixth to give UK and Schoonover an insurance run.
With UK’s two wins Saturday, the Wildcats improve to 5-1-1 on the 2023 season. Kentucky will wrap play in the Tracy Beard Classic on Sunday morning at 11 a.m. ET against Sam Houston State from field No. 7 of the Old Celina Park fields.
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Stephanie Schoonover Throws No-Hitter, Breaks Strikeout Record – UK Athletics​
Schoonover threw 107 pitches in the game, walking just two batters, her first two walks surrendered this season, and struck out 18. The infield for Kentucky only was forced to make one play, and it was a groundball to Margaret Tobias to end the game in the seventh inning. Jenna Blanton in CF and Vanessa Nesby in LF each recorded an out, with all 18 of the other outs in the game coming via a strikeout.
Schoonover struck out the first nine batters of the game before a defensive miscue spoiled the perfect game. The first four innings were all innings in which she struck out the side, as 16 of the first 17 outs in the game were strikeouts. 12 of Schoonover’s strikeouts were swinging and six were looking.
Erin Coffel had the biggest play of Saturday night’s top-25 showdown with a three-run home run in the top of the third inning to etch the Wildcats ahead of the Mean Green, 3-0. Coffel delivered a 3-1 offering over the fence into left center with Jenna Blanton and Kayla Kowalik on base to push UK in front as her fourth homer of the season flew high over the wall. Jenna Blanton’s RBI single was the other offensive output for the Wildcats in the top of the sixth to give UK and Schoonover an insurance run.
With UK’s two wins Saturday, the Wildcats improve to 5-1-1 on the 2023 season. Kentucky will wrap play in the Tracy Beard Classic on Sunday morning at 11 a.m. ET against Sam Houston State from field No. 7 of the Old Celina Park fields.
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Stephanie Schoonover Throws No-Hitter, Breaks Strikeout Record – UK Athletics​
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