CLEARWATER, Fla. – After spotting the Wisconsin Badgers three early run in the top of the first on a home run, the No. 14 Kentucky Softball team rallied to beat the Badgers with a home run from Karissa Hamilton, a strong effort in the circle from Jaden Vickers and a save from freshman Sydney Langdon.
With the win, Kentucky improves to 2-0 in the 2024 Shriners Children’s Clearwater Elite Invitational hosted by ESPN, and was the only team Thursday to go 2-0 in the tournament. Combined with Kentucky’s wild 12-10 win over North Carolina earlier Thursday, the Wildcats are now 6-1 on the season.
The tournament continues Friday for UK, who will play No. 6 Washington in its third top-10 match-up of the season for the Wildcats. The game will begin at 9:30 a.m. ET and will air on ESPN+ with Tyler Denning and Jenny Dalton-Hill on the call from Clearwater.
Vickers got the win Thursday night, throwing six complete innings with only four Badger hits and eight strikeouts. She only walked one batter on the night and threw 115 pitches. Sydney Langdon came in and pitched the seventh inning for the Wildcats, earning her first-career save with a hit and a strikeout.
With Langdon in the circle, the Badgers put two on and one out, but the Wildcats closed the door as the UW No. 3 batter in the order grounded into a game-ending 6-4-3 double play as Margaret Tobias and Erin Coffel teamed to get the runner at first and end the threat and close the door on UW.
Langdon Shuts Door in Seventh as Kentucky Beats Wisconsin – UK Athletics​
With the win, Kentucky improves to 2-0 in the 2024 Shriners Children’s Clearwater Elite Invitational hosted by ESPN, and was the only team Thursday to go 2-0 in the tournament. Combined with Kentucky’s wild 12-10 win over North Carolina earlier Thursday, the Wildcats are now 6-1 on the season.
The tournament continues Friday for UK, who will play No. 6 Washington in its third top-10 match-up of the season for the Wildcats. The game will begin at 9:30 a.m. ET and will air on ESPN+ with Tyler Denning and Jenny Dalton-Hill on the call from Clearwater.
Vickers got the win Thursday night, throwing six complete innings with only four Badger hits and eight strikeouts. She only walked one batter on the night and threw 115 pitches. Sydney Langdon came in and pitched the seventh inning for the Wildcats, earning her first-career save with a hit and a strikeout.
With Langdon in the circle, the Badgers put two on and one out, but the Wildcats closed the door as the UW No. 3 batter in the order grounded into a game-ending 6-4-3 double play as Margaret Tobias and Erin Coffel teamed to get the runner at first and end the threat and close the door on UW.
Langdon Shuts Door in Seventh as Kentucky Beats Wisconsin – UK Athletics​