No. 15 Kentucky Softball prepares for 2022 SEC Tournament
The University of Kentucky Softball team has arrived in the Sunshine State for the 2022 SEC Tournament. The ‘Cats, ranked No. 15 in the latest D1 Softball Top 25, snagged the No. 4 seed in the tournament thanks to a regular-season series finale win over South Carolina last weekend.
Where did the ‘Cats finish the regular season?
Kentucky has struggled at times this season, but still has remained a solid contender in a brutal SEC field. Speaking with the media Wednesday afternoon, head coach Rachel Lawson emphasized how impressive a top-four conference finish was considering how competitive the league was this season. Eight of the top 25 teams in the latest D1 Softball ranking are SEC.
The Wildcats recorded impressive series wins over Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and South Carolina this season. On the other hand, they lost to Alabama, Arkansas and a were swept by a not-so-great Mizzou team.
Against ranked opponents, UK went 10-8.
What do they do well?
Offensively, the ‘Cats have been very impressive so far this season. The team boasts a .334 batting average, second to only the league-leading Arkansas Razorbacks. Kentucky also holds five of the top 15 spots in individual batting
Senior catcher Kayla Kowalik is one of those five. Kowalik has the fifth-most hits in the league this season with 67. The Texas native recently announced her plans to return to Lexington for a fifth year next season.
Sophomore Erin Coffel is also one of the league’s leading batters. She has 61 hits of her own this season, good for a .418 batting average. She also is top-five in the league in RBIs with 58.
Where do they struggle?
Lawson, who also serves as the team’s pitching coach, has had a bit of trouble coming up with the right formula from the mound this season. “That has been one of the biggest challenges this year,” Lawson said. “Trying to figure out who to match up and when.”
Currently, senior Tatum Spangler leads the team with a 9-1 record and a 1.42 ERA — the lowest in the league. The team as a whole ranks near the bottom of the conference, though, with a 3.55 ERA and 329 hits allowed.
What’s next?
The tournament will be hosted by the Florida Gators in Gainesville. Kentucky (35-16 overall, 13-11 SEC), earned a double-bye thanks to their regular-season efforts. Thus, they will begin their postseason journey Thursday night against the host, No. 5 Florida.
Kentucky has not played the Gators this season, but it looks to be a promising match. The Gators ended 41-14-1 on the season and 13-11 in SEC play. Perhaps most notably, they are 15-3-1 at home this season, including a 4-1 win on Wednesday night over Texas A&M to advance.
The Gators boast a .308 batting average, led by fifth-year senior Hannah Adams and her .383 batting average. Lawson emphasized the Florida offense’s ability to tire pitchers, making it difficult to come up with the right pitching lineup.
Speaking of pitching, the Gators do that pretty well. The Gators are one of the best pitching teams in the SEC with a 2.21 ERA. Two of the top 10 pitchers in the league reside in Gainesville.
First pitch is scheduled for approximately 5:00 p.m. EST on the SEC Network.
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