OXFORD, Miss. – Kennedy Sullivan pitched all seven innings, a new career-high and Erin Coffel moved into second place all-time at Kentucky with her 49th-career home run as No. 16 Kentucky held off Ole Miss 4-3 on Friday night to take the series opener in Oxford.
UK jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to Erin Coffel’s home run in the top of the third inning, as she passed Brittany Cervantes for second all-time with her 49th-career long ball to straight-away center field as the Wildcats jumped out in front. Coffel was on base in every at bat Friday night, as she was hit by a pitch, hit a home run and was intentionally walked twice.
Sullivan was the winning pitcher, throwing 7.0 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits in the contest while getting a key out in the bottom of the seventh with the potential game-tying run standing on second base. Sullivan’s seven innings thrown are a new career high, as well as her six strikeouts in the game also setting a new career-best for the graduate student.
Kentucky centerfielder Jenna Blanton threw out the game-tying potential run in the bottom of the seventh with one out from CF on a single into centerfield. Kayla Kowalik applied a perfect tag that was upheld on video review and it was the difference in the game on Friday night.
With the win, UK improves to 23-9-1 on the season and now sits two games above the .500 mark in Southeastern Conference play at 6-4. Ole Miss drops to 2-8 in the SEC and is 22-17 overall. Game two of the series will be Saturday night at 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network+.
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Sullivan’s Pitching and Long Ball Give No. 16 Kentucky 4-3 Win – UK Athletics​
UK jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to Erin Coffel’s home run in the top of the third inning, as she passed Brittany Cervantes for second all-time with her 49th-career long ball to straight-away center field as the Wildcats jumped out in front. Coffel was on base in every at bat Friday night, as she was hit by a pitch, hit a home run and was intentionally walked twice.
Sullivan was the winning pitcher, throwing 7.0 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits in the contest while getting a key out in the bottom of the seventh with the potential game-tying run standing on second base. Sullivan’s seven innings thrown are a new career high, as well as her six strikeouts in the game also setting a new career-best for the graduate student.
Kentucky centerfielder Jenna Blanton threw out the game-tying potential run in the bottom of the seventh with one out from CF on a single into centerfield. Kayla Kowalik applied a perfect tag that was upheld on video review and it was the difference in the game on Friday night.
With the win, UK improves to 23-9-1 on the season and now sits two games above the .500 mark in Southeastern Conference play at 6-4. Ole Miss drops to 2-8 in the SEC and is 22-17 overall. Game two of the series will be Saturday night at 7 p.m. ET on SEC Network+.
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Sullivan’s Pitching and Long Ball Give No. 16 Kentucky 4-3 Win – UK Athletics​
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