Wildcats win 7-1, scoring seven unanswered runs
TEMPE, Ariz. – Autumn Humes pitched her second complete game in as many weeks, allowing just one run, and Alex Martens joined Mallory Peyton who launched huge home runs as the No. 10 Kentucky softball team beat Illinois State 7-1 on Saturday afternoon.
The Wildcats with the win improve to 6-1 on the young season, and Humes picks up the win in the circle, moving to 2-0 on the year. Humes allowed a home run to Redbird leadoff batter Mack Leonard on the first pitch she threw in the game, but kept ISU off the board for the remainder of the game working a complete-game with no walks and four strikeouts.
Mallory Peyton hit a two-run long ball, her third of the season to put Kentucky in front 2-1 in the top of the fourth inning and Alex Martens put the game on ice in the seventh inning with a three-run shot to right to make a 4-1 lead balloon to 7-1 for the Wildcats. The home run for Martens was also her third of the season as the tandem who hit 4-5 in the UK order co-lead the team in that category.
Seven Wildcats had hits in the game, with Martens and Renee Abernathy both logging a pair of hits for nine total in the contest.
Kentucky will play Arizona State on Saturday night at 9 p.m. ET for the final of its two games on Saturday at the Littlewood Classic. The No. 23 Sun Devils etched out a 3-2 win last night vs. Kentucky.
Key Stat
0. Autumn Humes issued no walks in the game, her second-straight complete game in the circle without allowing a walk to any batter.
Key Play
The key play in the game was Mallory Peyton’s two-run home run to take a 1-0 deficit in the top of the fourth inning into a one-run lead. Alex Martens doubled with one out in the inning and Peyton followed with the homer to straight-away CF.
Key Player
The key player in the game for Kentucky was Alex Martens. The senior second baseman was 2-for-3 in the game with a double, home run, three RBI and a walk.
Run Recap
Illinois State’s Mack Leonard hit a lead-off first-pitch home run in the bottom of the first to give the Redbirds a 1-0 lead. ISU 1, UK 0
In the top of the fourth, Mallory Peyton went long for her third homer of the season to give Kentucky a 2-1 lead, scoring Martens, who doubled in front of Peyton. Additionally, Autumn Humes helped her own cause and doubled into left center to score Renee Abernathy and Kentucky put up a three spot in the frame. UK 3, ISU 1
In the top of the sixth, a walk to Martens turned into a run as pinch runner Jaci Babbs scored on an RBI single from Abernathy. UK 4, ISU 1
After Kayla Kowalik and Rylea Smith led off the top of the seventh with singles, Martens took Morgan Day deep to take a 4-1 lead and make it 7-1. Humes closed out the game in the bottom of the seventh inning with a flyout to left field. FINAL – Kentucky 7, Illinois State 1