Kentucky Wildcats softball

{{short description|Softball team of the University of Kentucky}}

{{Infobox college softball team

|name = Kentucky Wildcats

|CurrentSeason = 2025 Kentucky Wildcats softball team

|logo = Kentucky Wildcats logo.svg

|logo_size = 200

|university = University of Kentucky

|athletic_director = Mitch Barnhart

|conference = Southeastern Conference

|conference_short = SEC

|division =

|city = Lexington

|stateabb = KY

|state = Kentucky

|coach = Rachel Lawson

|tenure = 16th

|stadium = John Cropp Stadium

|capacity = 2,117 {{cite web|title=UK Athletics John Cropp Stadium| date=2 August 2015 |url=https://ukathletics.com/sports/2015/8/2/_131461810022548460.aspx?id=437}}

|nickname = Wildcats

|national_champion =

|wcws = 2014

|super_regional = 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021

|ncaa_tourneys = 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024

|conference_tournament =

|conference_champion =

|founded=1997 (28 years ago)}}

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 Athletics 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 fifteen NCAA Division I Softball Championship, eight Super Regionals, and one Women's College World Series (WCWS).

Head coaches

class="wikitable"
Name ! Years ! Record
Beth Pruit \| 1997–2004 \| 181–297–1 (52–146 SEC)
Eileen Schmidt \| 2005–2007 \| 61–108 (12–75 SEC)
Rachel Lawson \| 2008–present \| 495–297 (155–173 SEC)

class="wikitable"

Name

! Years

! Record

Beth Pruit

| 1997–2004

| 181–297–1 (52–146 SEC)

Eileen Schmidt

| 2005–2007

| 61–108 (12–75 SEC)

Rachel Lawson

| 2008–present

| 495–297 (155–173 SEC)

History

The University of Kentucky softball team had their inaugural season in 1997.{{cite web|title=UK Athletics|date=2 August 2015 |url=http://www.ukathletics.com/page/facilities-cropp-stadium}}

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

class="wikitable"
Season ! Coach ! Record ! SEC record ! Notes
1997 \| Beth Pruit \| 11–44 \| \|
1998 \| Beth Pruit \| 19–43 \| 6–22 \|
1999 \| Beth Pruit \| 23–44 \| 6–22 \|
2000 \| Beth Pruit \| 36–29 \| 15–13 \|
2001 \| Beth Pruit \| 27–34 \| 10–18 \|
2002 \| Beth Pruit \| 24–32 \| 6–21 \|
2003 \| Beth Pruit \| 16–40 \| 3–26 \|
2004 \| Beth Pruit \| 25–31–1 \| 6–24 \|
2005 \| Eileen Schmidt \| 20–41 \| 4–25 \|
2006 \| Eileen Schmidt \| 21–36 \| 4–26 \|
2007 \| Eileen Schmidt \| 20–31 \| 4–24 \|
2008 \| Rachel Lawson \| 17–37 \| 3–25 \|
2009 \| Rachel Lawson \| 34–23 \| 13–14 \| NCAA Regional
2010 \| Rachel Lawson \| 32–27 \| 13–15 \| NCAA tournament
2011 \| Rachel Lawson \| 40–16 \| 14–9 \| NCAA Super Regional
2012 \| Rachel Lawson \| 30–30 \| 15–13 \| NCAA tournament
2013 \| Rachel Lawson \| 41–21 \| 13–11 \| NCAA Super Regional Hosted SEC Tournament & Regional
2014 \| Rachel Lawson \| 50–19 \| 13–11 \| Women's College World Series Hosted Regional
2015 \| Rachel Lawson \| 32–26 \| 5–19 \| NCAA Super Regional
2016 \| Rachel Lawson \| 46–14 \| 17–7 \| NCAA tournament Hosted Regional
2017 \| Rachel Lawson \| 39–19 \| 12–12 \| NCAA Super Regional Hosted Regional
2018 \| Rachel Lawson \| 35–21 \| 8–15 \| NCAA Super Regional Hosted Regional
2019 \| Rachel Lawson \| 36–24 \| 14–10 \| NCAA Super Regional Hosted Regional
2020 \| Rachel Lawson \| 20–4 \| 2–1 \| Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 \| Rachel Lawson \| 43–16 \| 13–11 \| NCAA Super Regional Hosted Regional
2022 \|Rachel Lawson \|37-19 \|13-11 \|NCAA Tournament
2023 \|Rachel Lawson \|33-22-1 \|10-14 \|NCAA Tournament
2024 \|Rachel Lawson \|30-22 \|8-16 \|NCAA Tournament
colspan="5" style="font-size: 8pt" align="center"\|Reference:{{cite web\|title=UK Athletics More Softball Links\|date=11 September 2015 \|url=https://ukathletics.com/sports/2015/9/11/_131461809864119422.aspx}}{{cite web\|title=UK Athletics Rachel Lawson\|url=https://ukathletics.com/coaches.aspx?rc=603&path=softball}}

class="wikitable"

Season

! Coach

! Record

! SEC record

! Notes

1997

| Beth Pruit

| 11–44

1998

| Beth Pruit

| 19–43

| 6–22

1999

| Beth Pruit

| 23–44

| 6–22

2000

| Beth Pruit

| 36–29

| 15–13

2001

| Beth Pruit

| 27–34

| 10–18

2002

| Beth Pruit

| 24–32

| 6–21

2003

| Beth Pruit

| 16–40

| 3–26

2004

| Beth Pruit

| 25–31–1

| 6–24

2005

| Eileen Schmidt

| 20–41

| 4–25

2006

| Eileen Schmidt

| 21–36

| 4–26

2007

| Eileen Schmidt

| 20–31

| 4–24

2008

| Rachel Lawson

| 17–37

| 3–25

2009

| Rachel Lawson

| 34–23

| 13–14

| NCAA Regional

2010

| Rachel Lawson

| 32–27

| 13–15

| NCAA tournament

2011

| Rachel Lawson

| 40–16

| 14–9

| NCAA Super Regional

2012

| Rachel Lawson

| 30–30

| 15–13

| NCAA tournament

2013

| Rachel Lawson

| 41–21

| 13–11

| NCAA Super Regional

Hosted SEC Tournament & Regional

2014

| Rachel Lawson

| 50–19

| 13–11

| Women's College World Series

Hosted Regional

2015

| Rachel Lawson

| 32–26

| 5–19

| NCAA Super Regional

2016

| Rachel Lawson

| 46–14

| 17–7

| NCAA tournament

Hosted Regional

2017

| Rachel Lawson

| 39–19

| 12–12

| NCAA Super Regional

Hosted Regional

2018

| Rachel Lawson

| 35–21

| 8–15

| NCAA Super Regional

Hosted Regional

2019

| Rachel Lawson

| 36–24

| 14–10

| NCAA Super Regional

Hosted Regional

2020

| Rachel Lawson

| 20–4

| 2–1

| Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic

2021

| Rachel Lawson

| 43–16

| 13–11

| NCAA Super Regional

Hosted Regional

2022

|Rachel Lawson

|37-19

|13-11

|NCAA Tournament

2023

|Rachel Lawson

|33-22-1

|10-14

|NCAA Tournament

2024

|Rachel Lawson

|30-22

|8-16

|NCAA Tournament

colspan="5" style="font-size: 8pt" align="center"|Reference:{{cite web|title=UK Athletics More Softball Links|date=11 September 2015 |url=https://ukathletics.com/sports/2015/9/11/_131461809864119422.aspx}}{{cite web|title=UK Athletics Rachel Lawson|url=https://ukathletics.com/coaches.aspx?rc=603&path=softball}}

All-Americans

class="wikitable"
Player ! Year(s) ! Team ! Organization !Notes
Molly Johnson {{cite web\|title=2009 DI All American Teams\|url=https://nfca.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3510:2009-di-aa-teams&catid=64&Itemid=134}} \| 2009 \| 2nd \| Louisville Slugger/NFCA \|
Kelsey Nunley {{cite web\|title=2016 ALL-AMERICAN AWARDS\|url=https://nfca.org/index.php?option=com_zoo&view=category&layout=category&awardtype=all-american&awarddivision=ncaa-i&awardyear=2016&Itemid=301}} \| 2016 \| 1st \| NFCA \|
Katie Reed {{cite web\|title=2017 ALL-AMERICAN AWARDS\|url=https://nfca.org/index.php?option=com_zoo&view=category&layout=category&awardtype=all-american&awarddivision=ncaa-i&awardyear=2017&Itemid=301}} \| 2017 \| 3rd \| NFCA \|
Abbey Cheek {{cite web\|title=2019 ALL-AMERICAN AWARDS\|url=https://nfca.org/index.php?option=com_zoo&view=category&layout=category&awardtype=all-american&awarddivision=ncaa-i&awardyear=2019&Itemid=301}} \| 2019 \| 1st \| NFCA \| Unanimous

class="wikitable"

Player

! Year(s)

! Team

! Organization

!Notes

Molly Johnson {{cite web|title=2009 DI All American Teams|url=https://nfca.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3510:2009-di-aa-teams&catid=64&Itemid=134}}

| 2009

| 2nd

| Louisville Slugger/NFCA

Kelsey Nunley {{cite web|title=2016 ALL-AMERICAN AWARDS|url=https://nfca.org/index.php?option=com_zoo&view=category&layout=category&awardtype=all-american&awarddivision=ncaa-i&awardyear=2016&Itemid=301}}

| 2016

| 1st

| NFCA

Katie Reed {{cite web|title=2017 ALL-AMERICAN AWARDS|url=https://nfca.org/index.php?option=com_zoo&view=category&layout=category&awardtype=all-american&awarddivision=ncaa-i&awardyear=2017&Itemid=301}}

| 2017

| 3rd

| NFCA

Abbey Cheek {{cite web|title=2019 ALL-AMERICAN AWARDS|url=https://nfca.org/index.php?option=com_zoo&view=category&layout=category&awardtype=all-american&awarddivision=ncaa-i&awardyear=2019&Itemid=301}}

| 2019

| 1st

| NFCA

| Unanimous

Other Awards

class="wikitable"
Player ! Year(s) ! Team ! Organization
Molly Johnson {{cite web\|title=2010 Senior CLASS Award\|url=http://www.seniorclassaward.com/season/softball_2010/}} \| 2010 \| 2nd \| Senior CLASS Award
Griffin Joiner {{cite web\|title=2015 Senior CLASS Award\|url=http://www.seniorclassaward.com/season/softball_2015/}} \| 2015 \| 1st \| Senior CLASS Award
Kelsey Nunley {{cite web\|title=2016 Senior CLASS Award\|url=http://www.seniorclassaward.com/season/softball_2016/}}{{cite web\|url=https://www.secsports.com/article/15498958/2016-sec-softball-awards-announced \|title=2016 SEC Softball Awards announced \|website=secsports.com \|date=May 10, 2016 \|access-date=July 1, 2021}} \| 2016 \| 1st \| Senior CLASS Award, SEC Pitcher of the Year
Abbey Cheek{{cite news\|url=https://nfca.org/divnews/ncaa1/schutt-sports-nfca-d1-poty-2019 \|title=Kentucky's Cheek garners 2019 Schutt Sports / NFCA Division I National Player of the Year honors \|website=nfca.org \|date=June 6, 2019 \|access-date=May 8, 2021}} \| 2019 \| \| NFCA National Player of the Year, SEC Player of the Year

class="wikitable"

Player

! Year(s)

! Team

! Organization

Molly Johnson {{cite web|title=2010 Senior CLASS Award|url=http://www.seniorclassaward.com/season/softball_2010/}}

| 2010

| 2nd

| Senior CLASS Award

Griffin Joiner {{cite web|title=2015 Senior CLASS Award|url=http://www.seniorclassaward.com/season/softball_2015/}}

| 2015

| 1st

| Senior CLASS Award

Kelsey Nunley {{cite web|title=2016 Senior CLASS Award|url=http://www.seniorclassaward.com/season/softball_2016/}}{{cite web|url=https://www.secsports.com/article/15498958/2016-sec-softball-awards-announced |title=2016 SEC Softball Awards announced |website=secsports.com |date=May 10, 2016 |access-date=July 1, 2021}}

| 2016

| 1st

| Senior CLASS Award, SEC Pitcher of the Year

Abbey Cheek{{cite news|url=https://nfca.org/divnews/ncaa1/schutt-sports-nfca-d1-poty-2019 |title=Kentucky's Cheek garners 2019 Schutt Sports / NFCA Division I National Player of the Year honors |website=nfca.org |date=June 6, 2019 |access-date=May 8, 2021}}

| 2019

| NFCA National Player of the Year, SEC Player of the Year

References

External links

[https://ukathletics.com/index.aspx?path=softball Official Website]

Category:Sports clubs and teams established in 1997

Category:1997 establishments in Kentucky