CLEARWATER, Fla. – Thanks to key hits by Taylor Ebbs and freshman Peyton Plotts, the No. 14 Kentucky Softball team rallied to come from behind and defeat North Carolina 12-10 to kick off its weekend at the 2024 Shriners Children’s Clearwater Elite Invitational hosted by ESPN.
Kentucky put up a six spot in the top of the first inning, as the Wildcats played a half dozen runs on six hits and sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning. The Tar Heels responded with five runs in the bottom half as UK pitchers struggled with walks and gave up a big fly to the Heels.
After UNC scored nine unanswered runs after the end of three innings to take a 9-6 lead, the Wildcats offense went to work, scoring six-straight runs to command the scoreboard with a 12-9 lead going into the bottom of the seventh. With Stephanie Schoonover pitching, UNC loaded the bases with no outs and the top of the order, but Schoonover got two outs on the same play in two different sequences and a strikeout looking ended the game as Schoonover got her fifth K of the game to end the day.
Offensively, Kentucky had 18 hits in the contest with 12 runs scored on 14 singles and four extra-base hits. Taylor Ebbs tied the game at 9-9 in the top of the sixth inning and Peyton Plotts hit a ball back up the middle to give UK the lead at 10-9 as the Wildcats jumped out ahead for the first time since it was 6-0.
Schoonover picked up her fourth win of the season, as she pitched 4.2 innings and struck out five batters.
Kentucky will play Wisconsin at 5 p.m. ET on Thursday live on ESPN+ in the second game of its twin billing to open the tournament.
Plotts and Ebbs’ Key Hits Help No. 14 Kentucky Win Slugfest – UK Athletics​
Kentucky put up a six spot in the top of the first inning, as the Wildcats played a half dozen runs on six hits and sent 10 batters to the plate in the inning. The Tar Heels responded with five runs in the bottom half as UK pitchers struggled with walks and gave up a big fly to the Heels.
After UNC scored nine unanswered runs after the end of three innings to take a 9-6 lead, the Wildcats offense went to work, scoring six-straight runs to command the scoreboard with a 12-9 lead going into the bottom of the seventh. With Stephanie Schoonover pitching, UNC loaded the bases with no outs and the top of the order, but Schoonover got two outs on the same play in two different sequences and a strikeout looking ended the game as Schoonover got her fifth K of the game to end the day.
Offensively, Kentucky had 18 hits in the contest with 12 runs scored on 14 singles and four extra-base hits. Taylor Ebbs tied the game at 9-9 in the top of the sixth inning and Peyton Plotts hit a ball back up the middle to give UK the lead at 10-9 as the Wildcats jumped out ahead for the first time since it was 6-0.
Schoonover picked up her fourth win of the season, as she pitched 4.2 innings and struck out five batters.
Kentucky will play Wisconsin at 5 p.m. ET on Thursday live on ESPN+ in the second game of its twin billing to open the tournament.
Plotts and Ebbs’ Key Hits Help No. 14 Kentucky Win Slugfest – UK Athletics​