The University of Kentucky softball team celebrated a win in its home opener against Dayton, thanks to the heroics of All-American Erin Coffel. Coffel blasted a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning, flipping the team’s 4-2 deficit to a 5-4 lead. The Wildcats struggled at bat all night but managed to turn the game around in the sixth inning. Coffel’s homer over the center wall was the first lead for the Wildcats after Dayton scored three runs in the first inning. Kentucky then scored once in the second, once in the third, and three times in the sixth inning to secure the win.
The Wildcats’ pitcher, Stephanie Schoonover, was critical in keeping the game close, allowing only two hits and one run while pitching the final four innings of the game. The win takes Kentucky to 13-5-1 on the season while Dayton falls to 6-9. Kentucky’s next challenge will be a conference series with the No. 23 Missouri Tigers in Columbia, Missouri. The Tigers come into the game with a 16-6 record in conference play and will be looking for their first win in the season series against Kentucky since 2017.
Kentucky has a good record in home openers, with an 18-9 overall record and a 12-4 record under coach Rachel Lawson. The Wildcats’ Kayla Kowalik scored the first run for the team with an RBI single in the second inning, followed by Rylea Smith’s RBI groundout in the third inning. Dayton scored once more in the top of the sixth inning on an error. However, Coffel’s home run in the bottom of the sixth turned the tide and led to Kentucky’s win.
In addition, Erin Coffel is a standout player for the Wildcats, having been named an All-American twice, and was one of the leading home run hitters in college softball in 2021. Stephanie Schoonover, Kentucky’s pitcher, was named SEC Pitcher of the Week for her efforts against Dayton. She has a 1.96 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 50 innings pitched this season.
Kentucky returns to action on Friday when they play the Missouri Tigers at 5pm and the game can be seen on the SEC Network.
To see the full schedule go here.
Read: Big Oscar Tshiebwe 2X All American
Read: Player Spotlight – Cason Wallace
Read: Locker Room Lance Leading Cats
