(Photo Courtesy of Kentucky Athletics)
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Sophomore infielder Nikki Sagermann hit a three-run homer and a two-run double in game two, while senior pitcher Lauren Cumbess and sophomore pitcher Kelsey Nunley combined to throw 14 innings on the day with only one run scored as the No. 5/6 University of Kentucky softball team defeated Penn State, 5-0, and FAU, 7-1, in day one of the FAU Invitational at FAU Softball Stadium in Boca Raton, Fla.
Nunley was the star for Kentucky in its game one win vs. Penn State, throwing seven scoreless innings, allowing only two hits with four strikeouts. The native of Soddy Daisy, Tenn., moved to 5-0 on the year with the win. Cumbess gave Nunley the support she needed at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. Senior Emily Gaines went 1-for-1 with a pinch-hit single, while outfielders Sylver Samuel, Darington Richardson and Emily Jolly each posted singles.
In UK’s game two win over FAU, Cumbess delievered a strong performance in the circle, throwing seven innings, allowing one run on five hits with a season-high nine strikeouts. The nine strikeouts for Cumbess were just one off her career best. The native of Normal, Ill., went 1-for-3 in the game with a double and run scored, while Sagermann was the star at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a three-run home runs – her first of the season – and a two-run opposite field double. Sagermann’s five RBI were just one off her career best for a game.
Sophomore Christian Stokes recorded a multiple-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a run scored, while junior catcher Griffin Joiner, who snapped a nine-game hitting streak in game one, went 1-for-4 with a double. Senior outfielder Ginny Carroll had a hit and two runs scored, while Samuel and Gaines also had hits.
Kentucky (12-0) continues the round-robin event with a doubleheader on Saturday starting with Kent State at 9 a.m. and No. 5/7 Michigan at 11 a.m. UK’s play in the event concludes Sunday with a 9 a.m. battle vs. Penn State. All times are Eastern. Live stats from every game will be available on UKathletics.com.
The wins continue Kentucky’s season-best start to a season at 12-0. The 12 consecutive wins also extend the longest winning streak in school history, shattering the previous school record of eight consecutive wins.
The Wildcats scored first vs. Penn State behind an unearned run in the first inning. Stokes started the inning with a leadoff walk, moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by Ansley Smith. After Joiner walked for the fifth consecutive time and a passed ball moved both runners into scoring position, Cumbess hit a line drive to leftfield to score Stokes from third to put UK up 1-0. Carroll flied out deep to centerfield to end the threat.
UK increased its lead to 2-0 in the third inning with another unearned run. Jolly started the inning with a walk, moving to second on the sacrifice bunt by Stokes, who was safe at first after the ball hit her and went into right field. The throwing error allowed Jolly to score with Stokes thrown out at second trying to advance. The Wildcats put two more runners on in the inning but a Carroll lineout ended the frame.
The Wildcats scored two more runs in the fifth inning to take a 4-0 lead. Joiner got the rally going with a walk and was pinch ran for by senior Sarah Frazer, who scored when Cumbess doubled to the wall in right. Cumbess moved to third on the throw home, which got away from the Penn State catcher and went into the UK dugout, allowing Cumbess to score and give UK the four-run lead.
Kentucky added another insurance run in the sixth inning when Jolly singled in Richardson to put UK up 5-0.
After FAU took an early lead in game two with a run in the first inning, UK grabbed four runs on four hits and two errors in the fifth inning. Stokes started the inning with a single down the leftfield, moving to second on a perfect sacrifice bunt by Ansley Smith. Joiner then flied out to deep centerfield, moving Stokes to third and eventually scoring Stokes when the throw got by the third baseman and went into the UK dugout. Cumbess kept the rally going with a double to right field and Carroll hit an infield single before Sagermann blasted her first home run of the season to give UK a 4-1 lead.
UK scored three more runs in the seventh inning to put the game away after a two-run double by Sagermann, who eventually scored when Richardson grounded into an error.
