Rachel Lawson wanted her hitters to focus in and time up better with Michigan starting pitcher Lauren Derkowski, who had been lights out through three innings. And the Kentucky hitters apparently got the message.
At least Grace Lorsung followed her coaches heed. After Lawson spoke with the ESPN2 broadcast ahead of the bottom of the 4th inning, the senior bashed a solo home run off Derkowski to give Kentucky a 4-1 lead.
“Well we’ve been a little late on everything, that’s why we keep jamming up and keeping it in the infield or striking out,” Lawson said. “So we really need to do a better job of getting on time with her. I think we’re late, we can’t get our swing off. And we need to — hopefully this time through, we’ll be able to get it.”
And while Kentucky had given up the opening run of the game, they had mostly managed to stave off danger from Michigan, which left a pair of runners on base in the first and second innings.
The big concern for Lawson and Co was managing starting pitcher Stephanie Schoonover, who went beyond 100 pitches in the top of the 4th inning.
“Well she’s just going too deep in counts,” Lawson said. “We gotta get ahead a little bit earlier, mix it a little bit differently. They’re putting people on and that’s not helping. So we’ve gotta make sure that we attack ’em early, keep them off base with our defense and then just see what happens.”
Unfortunately for Lawson and Kentucky, Schoonover gave up a two-run shot on her 118th pitch, putting the Wildcats behind, 3-2.
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