NORMAN, Okla. – Junior shortstop Erin Coffel delivered a grand slam in the bottom of the third inning as part of a six-run frame which aided an 11-run effort from the No. 14 Kentucky offense as UK downed UIC 11-0 in five games Sunday to conclude the 2023 Oklahoma Tournament in Norman.
Alexia Lacatena pitched four shutout innings on Sunday, allowing just three hits to the 16 batters she faced, while walking two and surrendering no runs. Stephanie Schoonover pitched a perfect fifth inning in relief of Lacatena to nail down the run-rule win, throwing just 11 pitches with nine of them recorded as strikes and two K’s in the frame.
Offensively, UK scored 11 runs on eight hits and were aided by six Flame errors in the contest. Margaret Tobias and center fielder Kayla Kowalik were the only UK players with multiple hits Sunday afternoon, as the Wildcat offense was balanced throughout the day.
Kentucky with Sunday’s win improves to 12-5-1 on the 2023 season as UIC falls to 0-17 through four weekends of action. The Wildcats will head home to Lexington and John Cropp Stadium for the first time this season as it opens the 2023 home slate of games on Wednesday afternoon at 5 p.m. ET against Dayton. The game will be broadcasted live on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app. Tickets for UK’s home opener are available at UKathletics.com.
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Coffel’s Grand Slam Sends No. 14 Kentucky Past UIC, 14-0 in Five – UK Athletics​
Alexia Lacatena pitched four shutout innings on Sunday, allowing just three hits to the 16 batters she faced, while walking two and surrendering no runs. Stephanie Schoonover pitched a perfect fifth inning in relief of Lacatena to nail down the run-rule win, throwing just 11 pitches with nine of them recorded as strikes and two K’s in the frame.
Offensively, UK scored 11 runs on eight hits and were aided by six Flame errors in the contest. Margaret Tobias and center fielder Kayla Kowalik were the only UK players with multiple hits Sunday afternoon, as the Wildcat offense was balanced throughout the day.
Kentucky with Sunday’s win improves to 12-5-1 on the 2023 season as UIC falls to 0-17 through four weekends of action. The Wildcats will head home to Lexington and John Cropp Stadium for the first time this season as it opens the 2023 home slate of games on Wednesday afternoon at 5 p.m. ET against Dayton. The game will be broadcasted live on SEC Network+ and the ESPN app. Tickets for UK’s home opener are available at UKathletics.com.
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Coffel’s Grand Slam Sends No. 14 Kentucky Past UIC, 14-0 in Five – UK Athletics​