Missing its ace, Kentucky softball suffers first SEC sweep at hands of Tennessee

It’s often said that the quarterback is the most important position in sports. But Kentucky’s hard-fought weekend against Tennessee made a strong case for the softball pitcher.

Now more than three weeks without ace Stephanie Schoonover, who is out indefinitely with a forearm injury, the Wildcats have looked to Italian Olympic team member Alexia Lacatena.

During Friday’s 2-1 loss in eight innings to sixth-ranked Tennessee, Lacatena threw 113 pitches, allowing six hits and two earned runs. She struck out six and walked just one batter. Taylor Ebbs’ fifth home run of the season put UK on the board.

“Friday night was a very gutty performance,” UK head coach Rachel Lawson said. “We did a great job. We had a great performance on the mound and it was a good softball game. We didn’t end up on the right side of things for us, but we played well.”

In that game, the 17th-ranked Wildcats’ became the sixth team to hold the Lady Vols to two runs or less this season.

On Saturday and Sunday, the Wildcats didn’t deliver that same fight.

Tennessee (34-5 overall, 13-2 Southeastern Conference) completed the series sweep with Saturday’s 10-2 victory and Sunday’s 15-1 win in five innings — the first time this year the Wildcats (25-13-1, 7-8) have been swept in an SEC series.

“Today and yesterday, totally different story,” Lawson said Sunday. “We were tentative in the box. On the mound, we weren’t commanding our pitches. ... They were pretty much hitting everything they wanted to. I just don’t think we played hard. I think we played like they were the number 10 team in the country. And I think we played like we didn’t think we deserved to be there. And I think anytime you do that, a team as good as Tennessee is going to whoop up on you. We’ve got a couple of days, hopefully we’ll be able to change our mindset and get back on the right side of things mentally.”

On Saturday, Tennessee leaned on a balanced offense to handle the Wildcats in six innings. In front of a season-high 1,887 fans at John Cropp Stadium, UK fell victim to a slow start; an issue that would persist into Sunday’s contest.

On Saturday, Tennessee scored five runs in the first two innings and continued to build upon its quick start. On Sunday, the Lady Vols scored six runs in the first two innings, never looking back.

Without Schoonover, the Wildcats had to look elsewhere for an ace. After pitching a complete game Friday, Lacatena wasn’t available Saturday. Kennedy Sullivan, Taylor Hess and Izzy Harrison shared responsibility in the circle, each giving up at least two runs.

UK catcher and captain Kayla Kowalik led the Wildcats on Saturday, going 2-for-3, including putting the Cats on the scoreboard in the fourth when she doubled and later crossed the plate.

“You kind of win some and you lose some,” Kowalik said. “And you learn along the way, you know, when to take things personally and when to kind of let it roll off your back. I think Friday’s loss we can take a little bit personally. And Saturday and Sunday, we can kind of, you know, let it roll off our backs and kind of get a move on and just kind of forget about it, honestly. And just move on to the next game.”

Lacatena returned to the circle Sunday before she was replaced in the third by Sloan Gayan after issuing more walks than she had in the entirety of Friday’s game. However, regardless of who made their way to the circle — Lacatena, Gayan, Sullivan or Hess, no UK pitcher could stop the bleeding. Lacatena gave up six runs, while Gayan allowed four, Sullivan three and Hess two.

Two Lady Vols delivered showstopping performances Sunday. First baseman McKenna Gibson had two three-run home runs, and center fielder Kiki Milloy hit two solo homers.

The Wildcats’ sole run arrived in the fourth, when Grace Lorsung drove in Vanessa Nesby.

Despite Lacatena’s high-level performance Friday, Lawson said Tennessee was prepared for her Sunday.

“They knew what to expect,” Lawson said. “So that really helped their cause, but she’s got to make sure that she can command both sides of the plate and throw a different game plan when you’re playing a team as good as Tennessee. Today, I think, was a learning experience for her and I expect she’ll come out better next time she comes out and pitches.”

Kentucky is now in a tie for seventh place in the league with South Carolina and LSU. Tennessee remains at the top of the SEC standings.

The Wildcats will play at Northern Kentucky on Tuesday before hosting Arkansas this weekend.