Kayla Kowalik shed a few tears during Senior Day. (Vicky Graff Photo)
It was only fitting that Kayla Kowalik would score the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning on Senior Day at Kentucky.
The two-time All-American is Kentucky’s all-time leader in hits and runs scored. She also led the nation in hitting in 2021.
Kentucky trailed Florida 6-5 going to the seventh inning Saturday after giving up two runs in the seventh inning Friday night to lose to Florida. Kowalik After a Margaret Tobias single to open UK’s seventh inning, Kowalik doubled. Tobias scored the tying run on a wild pitch before Kowalik got the game-winning score on a Taylor Ebbs’ sacrifice fly to give No. 23 UK a needed win over No. 16 Florida.
It was poetic justice that John Cropp Stadium had a sold-out crowd of 2,049 fans for Kowalik’s Senior Day because of what she’s done for the program.
Kentucky got out to a 4-0 lead after three innings with Kowalik’s sacrifice fly plating one run and an Erin Coffel single driving in another run. However, pitchers Kennedy Sullivan and Sloan Gayan could not maintain the lead for UK to set the stage for the dramatic seventh inning rally
Kowalik was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI in the win. She is now hitting a team-high .451 this season in 49 games with 44 runs scored, 21 RBI’s and 14 stolen bases in 16 tries. She also has a team-high three triples.
The two teams play again this afternoon at 2 on ESPN2 with Eric Frede and Madison Shipman on the call.
UK Softball Senior Day
Vicky Graff Photos
