Kentucky’s pitcher Kelsey Nunley, right, gives a thumbs-up to Nikki Sagermann after Kentucky defeated Louisiana-Lafayette 4-1 during the NCAA Women’s College World Series softball tournament game in Oklahoma City on May 29, 2014.OKLAHOMA CITY – Kelsey Nunley threw a one-hitter, Lauren Cumbess homered and had an RBI double and Kentucky won the first Women’s College World Series game in its softball program’s history Thursday night, 4-1 over Louisiana-Lafayette.
Kentucky (49-14), which won twice at longtime softball power UCLA in the super regional, posted its first win in five tries against Louisiana-Lafayette (49-9-1).
The Wildcats will play the winner of Thursday’s late game between Alabama and defending national champion Oklahoma today. ULL’s Ragin’ Cajuns will face the loser of the Alabama-Oklahoma game Saturday.
Lexie Elkins had the only hit against Nunley (30-9), the former Soddy-Daisy High School ace, slamming her 23rd home run of the season in the first inning. But the Cajuns never advanced a runner past second base after that.
Nunley outdueled Louisiana-Lafayette’s Christina Hamilton (29-3), who threw a five-hitter but had her her six-game winning streak end.