SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – Thanks to a 3-for-3 day at the plate including her first-career home run from Emory Donaldson, the Kentucky Softball team knocked off UC Santa Barbara 10-2 in five innings Tuesday afternoon.
With the win, Kentucky improves to 5-1 to start the 2026 season and now has two-consecutive run-rule wins with UK beating Minnesota 8-0 on Sunday in San Deigo. Donaldson was one of three players for Kentucky to have multiple hits in the game as Maddy Clark had two hits and Carly Sleeman had two hits, as well as UK notched 10 for the contest, as well.
Sarah Haendiges picked up her second win of the year in the circle, going the opening 3.2 innings allowing two runs on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts. McKenzie Oslanzi then came in relief to get the final four outs without surrendering a run and not allowing a hit and striking out one.
Kentucky will now make the short trip up the California Coastline to Palo Alto, where it will play in the Cardinal Classic over the weekend, a tournament that is hosted by Stanford. UK plays Stanford and Cal State Fullerton on Thursday, Oregon on Friday and then closes out the event with games against Oregon and Cal Poly.
Donaldson’s Career Day Sends Kentucky to 10-2 Win Over UCSB – UK Athletics
With the win, Kentucky improves to 5-1 to start the 2026 season and now has two-consecutive run-rule wins with UK beating Minnesota 8-0 on Sunday in San Deigo. Donaldson was one of three players for Kentucky to have multiple hits in the game as Maddy Clark had two hits and Carly Sleeman had two hits, as well as UK notched 10 for the contest, as well.
Sarah Haendiges picked up her second win of the year in the circle, going the opening 3.2 innings allowing two runs on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts. McKenzie Oslanzi then came in relief to get the final four outs without surrendering a run and not allowing a hit and striking out one.
Kentucky will now make the short trip up the California Coastline to Palo Alto, where it will play in the Cardinal Classic over the weekend, a tournament that is hosted by Stanford. UK plays Stanford and Cal State Fullerton on Thursday, Oregon on Friday and then closes out the event with games against Oregon and Cal Poly.
Donaldson’s Career Day Sends Kentucky to 10-2 Win Over UCSB – UK Athletics