LEXINGTON, Ky. – Karissa Hamilton hit a walk-off three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth and freshman pitcher Sydney Langdon threw a complete-game shutout as No. 23 Kentucky run-ruled South Dakota State 8-0 on Thursday night on opening day of the 2024 John Cropp Classic.
Kentucky scored eight runs on six hits Thursday evening, with four coming via the long ball as freshman Peyton Plotts launched a solo bomb in the bottom of the third inning before Hamilton’s walk-off blast to end the game in the bottom of the fifth.
Langdon, a freshman from Perry, Georgia, went the distance in the circle, striking out five batters to earn her third win of the season as she upped her record to 3-2 on the year and lowered her ERA to under three. She needed just 86 pitches to complete the contest after throwing 30 in the top of the first inning alone. Langdon only surrendered one Jackrabbit hit on the night, coming on a single up the middle in the top of the second.
Hallie Mitchell got the Kentucky offense going in the bottom of the second inning on a two-RBI single up the middle in a pinch-hit appearance to push the Cats out of the gates. Plotts added a third run in the bottom of the third and a double by Erin Coffel put a fourth run on the board in the bottom of the fourth prior to UK putting up a four spot to close out the night.
UK improves to 16-7 on the season with Thursday night’s win. The Jackrabbits fell to 13-18 with the loss. Day two of the John Cropp Classic will feature just one game due to the expected inclement weather in Lexington, as Columbia will play Ohio State at 4 p.m. ET.
Karissa Hamilton’s Walk-Off Homer Run Rules South Dakota St. – UK Athletics​
Kentucky scored eight runs on six hits Thursday evening, with four coming via the long ball as freshman Peyton Plotts launched a solo bomb in the bottom of the third inning before Hamilton’s walk-off blast to end the game in the bottom of the fifth.
Langdon, a freshman from Perry, Georgia, went the distance in the circle, striking out five batters to earn her third win of the season as she upped her record to 3-2 on the year and lowered her ERA to under three. She needed just 86 pitches to complete the contest after throwing 30 in the top of the first inning alone. Langdon only surrendered one Jackrabbit hit on the night, coming on a single up the middle in the top of the second.
Hallie Mitchell got the Kentucky offense going in the bottom of the second inning on a two-RBI single up the middle in a pinch-hit appearance to push the Cats out of the gates. Plotts added a third run in the bottom of the third and a double by Erin Coffel put a fourth run on the board in the bottom of the fourth prior to UK putting up a four spot to close out the night.
UK improves to 16-7 on the season with Thursday night’s win. The Jackrabbits fell to 13-18 with the loss. Day two of the John Cropp Classic will feature just one game due to the expected inclement weather in Lexington, as Columbia will play Ohio State at 4 p.m. ET.
Karissa Hamilton’s Walk-Off Homer Run Rules South Dakota St. – UK Athletics​