Senior Meagan Aull hit a pair of home runs to lead an eight-run first inning and guide the 23rd-ranked Kentucky softball team to a 9-2 victory and three-game sweep over No. 5 Florida on Sunday at the UK Softball Complex.
Aull, who started the series with one home run this season, had at least one in all three games.
"She clearly had an incredible weekend, and it's great to see because she's one of our hardest workers," UK Coach Rachel Lawson said about Aull. "For her to be able to perform like this on a national stage is awesome."
UK (25-7, 11-3) matched a program record with its fourth series victory in Southeastern Conference play.
Freshman Lauren Cumbess pitched five innings for her first SEC victory. She allowed two runs and struck out seven batters.
Next up for the Wildcats is a doubleheader at Austin Peay starting at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
Carolina sweeps Bat Cats
South Carolina scored two runs in the first inning and rode a strong pitching performance from freshman righty Forrest Koumas to a 4-1 win over Kentucky and a series sweep Sunday in Columbia.
Kentucky (15-14, 2-7 Southeastern Conference) lost all three games over the weekend by a total of six runs.
South Carolina (22-5, 7-2 SEC) got an outstanding start from Koumas, who went a career-high 61⁄3 innings, allowing no earned runs on two hits and a walk while striking out three.
He was relieved by submarine right-hander John Taylor in the seventh after allowing a leadoff walk and getting the first out.
UK starter Taylor Rogers went 61⁄3 innings, allowing six hits and three runs — two earned — walking three and striking out five.
Rogers allowed the first four hitters he faced in the game to reach base, with two runs scoring off three hits in the bottom of the first.
Sophomore first baseman Luke Maile singled home Braden Kapteyn in the eighth for Kentucky's only run.
The Cats next play at home against Xavier on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
Other sports
Men's tennis: UK swept all three doubles matches and won four of six in singles to win Saturday at South Carolina. The No. 14 Cats reached the 20-win mark for the second straight year, something they haven't done since 1987-89. And Kentucky is now 4-1 on the road in the SEC, including wins over No. 15 Florida and No. 25 Mississippi.
Next up for the Cats is a doubleheader Wednesday with Ohio State (3 p.m.) and Morehead State (8 p.m.).
Women's tennis: UK fell 6-1 at South Carolina on Saturday. Khristina Blajkevitch was the lone winner for the Cats, beating Madeleine Saari-Byström 6-1, 6-4. Kentucky has now lost eight of its last nine and travels to No. 15 Arkansas on Friday.
