Kentucky Wildcats softball

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Kentucky Wildcats
Softball current event.svg 2025 Kentucky Wildcats softball team
Kentucky Wildcats logo.svg
Founded1997 (28 years ago)
University University of Kentucky
Athletic director Mitch Barnhart
Head coach Rachel Lawson (16th season)
Conference SEC
Location Lexington, KY
Home stadiumJohn Cropp Stadium (Capacity: 2,117 [1] )
Nickname Wildcats
ColorsBlue and white [2]
   
NCAA WCWS appearances
2014
NCAA super regional appearances
2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021
NCAA Tournament appearances
2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025

The Kentucky Wildcats softball team represents the University of Kentucky in the sport of softball. The Kentucky Wildcats compete in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Southeastern Conference (SEC). The Wildcats play their home games at John Cropp Stadium on the university's Lexington, Kentucky campus, and are currently led by head coach Rachel Lawson. In the history of the Wildcats softball program, the team has made appearances in sixteen NCAA Division I Softball Championship, eight Super Regionals, and one Women's College World Series (WCWS).

Contents

Head coaches

NameYearsRecord
Beth Pruit1997–2004181–297–1 (52–146 SEC)
Eileen Schmidt2005–200761–108 (12–75 SEC)
Rachel Lawson 2008–present495–297 (155–173 SEC)

History

The University of Kentucky softball team had their inaugural season in 1997. [3]

University of Kentucky Athletic Director Mitch Barnhart hired Rachel Lawson in July 2007. Since her hire, Lawson has guided UK to eight NCAA Super Regionals including an appearance in the 2014 College World Series, the program's first.

In her fourteen seasons at Kentucky, Lawson has an overall win–loss record of 495–297, making her the winningest head coach in school history and already has more wins in SEC play than UK had total as a program when she took over in 2008. UK also finished 2016 in the top 14 of both collegiate softball rankings for the third time in school history with eleven wins over ranked teams.

Another accomplishment since Lawson's hire in 2008 is the construction of John Cropp Stadium. The facility cost $9.5 million, and debuted for the 2013 season. UK hosted the 2013 SEC Tournament as well as an NCAA regional, another first for the program. Since 2013, UK has hosted an NCAA regional in 2013, 2014, 2016–2019, and 2021.

Year-by-year results

SeasonCoachRecordSEC recordNotes
1997Beth Pruit11–44
1998Beth Pruit19–436–22
1999Beth Pruit23–446–22
2000Beth Pruit36–2915–13
2001Beth Pruit27–3410–18
2002Beth Pruit24–326–21
2003Beth Pruit16–403–26
2004Beth Pruit25–31–16–24
2005Eileen Schmidt20–414–25
2006Eileen Schmidt21–364–26
2007Eileen Schmidt20–314–24
2008 Rachel Lawson 17–373–25
2009Rachel Lawson34–2313–14 NCAA Regional
2010Rachel Lawson32–2713–15 NCAA tournament
2011Rachel Lawson40–1614–9 NCAA Super Regional
2012Rachel Lawson30–3015–13 NCAA tournament
2013Rachel Lawson41–2113–11 NCAA Super Regional

Hosted SEC Tournament & Regional

2014Rachel Lawson50–1913–11 Women's College World Series

Hosted Regional

2015Rachel Lawson32–265–19 NCAA Super Regional
2016Rachel Lawson46–1417–7 NCAA tournament

Hosted Regional

2017Rachel Lawson39–1912–12 NCAA Super Regional

Hosted Regional

2018Rachel Lawson35–218–15 NCAA Super Regional

Hosted Regional

2019Rachel Lawson36–2414–10 NCAA Super Regional

Hosted Regional

2020Rachel Lawson20–42–1Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021Rachel Lawson43–1613–11 NCAA Super Regional

Hosted Regional

2022Rachel Lawson37-1913-11 NCAA Tournament
2023Rachel Lawson33-22-110-14 NCAA Tournament
2024Rachel Lawson30-228-16 NCAA Tournament
Reference: [4] [5]

All-Americans

PlayerYear(s)TeamOrganizationNotes
Molly Johnson [6] 20092ndLouisville Slugger/NFCA
Kelsey Nunley [7] 20161stNFCA
Katie Reed [8] 20173rdNFCA
Abbey Cheek [9] 20191stNFCAUnanimous

Other Awards

PlayerYear(s)TeamOrganization
Molly Johnson [10] 20102ndSenior CLASS Award
Griffin Joiner [11] 20151stSenior CLASS Award
Kelsey Nunley [12] [13] 20161stSenior CLASS Award, SEC Pitcher of the Year
Abbey Cheek [14] 2019 NFCA National Player of the Year, SEC Player of the Year

References

  1. ↑ "UK Athletics John Cropp Stadium". 2 August 2015.
  2. ↑ "Primary Color Palette". University of Kentucky Athletics Brand Identity Guidelines (PDF). February 5, 2016. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  3. ↑ "UK Athletics". 2 August 2015.
  4. ↑ "UK Athletics More Softball Links". 11 September 2015.
  5. ↑ "UK Athletics Rachel Lawson".
  6. ↑ "2009 DI All American Teams".
  7. ↑ "2016 ALL-AMERICAN AWARDS".
  8. ↑ "2017 ALL-AMERICAN AWARDS".
  9. ↑ "2019 ALL-AMERICAN AWARDS".
  10. ↑ "2010 Senior CLASS Award".
  11. ↑ "2015 Senior CLASS Award".
  12. ↑ "2016 Senior CLASS Award".
  13. ↑ "2016 SEC Softball Awards announced". secsports.com. May 10, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
  14. ↑ "Kentucky's Cheek garners 2019 Schutt Sports / NFCA Division I National Player of the Year honors". nfca.org. June 6, 2019. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
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