Kentucky softball opens its season with wins over No. 3 Stanford and UC Santa Barbara

Caroline Makauskas
·2 min read

Kentucky softball coach Rachel Lawson’s addition of graduate lefty pitcher Jaden Vickers is already paying dividends, as the Wildcats (2-0) started their 2024 season a pair of victories that included one against No. 3 Stanford on Friday in the San Diego Tournament in California. UK also defeated UC Santa Barbara in the first game of the doubleheader.

Kentucky’s 2-1 win over Stanford (1-1) is the highest-ranking win in program history, and Vickers led the way with a gritty complete game, allowing one run on two hits, plus one walk, in the upset.

The Wildcats scored first, courtesy of a solo home run to right field from junior Taylor Ebbs in the top of the second inning. It’s the second straight season Ebbs has hit a home run on opening day, after a grand slam last year against St. John’s.

Stanford evened the score, and put an end to Vickers’ no-hitter, in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI double to left field. With the bases loaded, Vickers halted Stanford’s momentum with a strikeout and a groundout to give UK another opportunity to strike.

Sure enough, senior Vanessa Nesby singled to send Ebbs home from third with one out at the top of the sixth. Vickers held strong and recorded a quick 1-2-3 inning on back-to-back-to-back flyouts.

According to UK Athletics, this is the first time since 2016 the Wildcats earned a ranked victory on opening day, when UK knocked off No. 25 Notre Dame.

In the first game, the Wildcats handed UC Santa Barbara a 5-1 loss to start the season. Fifth-year senior Rylea Smith led UK with three hits in four at-bats and scored twice — including her fifth career home run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Margaret Tobias, Karissa Hamilton and Jenna Blanton also scored runs for the Wildcats.

Stephanie Schoonover and Alexia Lacatena split time in the circle, with Schoonover allowing one run on three hits with nine strikeouts on 121 pitches. Lacatena took over in the sixth inning and got the save by pitching 1 2/3 innings and a pair of strikeouts.

UK will play is scheduled to face No. 24 San Diego State on Saturday night following a rematch against the Cardinal in the afternoon, as well as play Minnesota on Sunday.

Kentucky infielders Margaret Tobias, center, and Meeko Harrison, right, celebrate a double play against No. 3 Stanford on Friday in San Diego.
Kentucky infielders Margaret Tobias, center, and Meeko Harrison, right, celebrate a double play against No. 3 Stanford on Friday in San Diego.

‘Everyone here has the same goal.’ UK softball adds a lefty to help make things right.

‘We want to go far.’ Five Kentucky softball storylines to watch as 2024 season begins.