UK Softball's Erin Coffel Ranked Top-10 in the Nation For 2024 Season
Erin Coffel, senior shortstop for Kentucky Softball, was named the No. 10 overall player by D1 Softball in their top-100 rankings for the upcoming 2024 season.
Coffel has continued to create a name for herself, both locally and nationally in the softball world since high school.
The Indiana native was ranked as the No. 7 player for the class of 2020 by FLOsoftball, which made her one of the highest-ranked recruits to ever sign to be a Wildcat. Coffel was also voted the Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year in 2019 and 2020.
Big things are coming
In her freshman season as a ‘Cat in 2021, Coffel broke various school records. One of those records included being the first ever UK freshman to have 16 home runs in a single season. Coffel also tied a school record after hitting two home runs and having six RBI in a single game. Following her freshman campaign, she was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team and Second Team All-SEC.
Coffel’s sophomore season was no different as she was Kentucky’s leading hitter in their conference with a BA of .423. In her second season as a Wildcat, she also tied her own school and personal record of having two homers and six RBI in another match up. At the conclusion of the 2022 season Coffel was named to the Second Team NFCA All-America roster and First Team All-SEC.
A Kentucky star
This past season, Coffel stepped her game up even more as she hit 19 home runs in the season to set another UK school record for most homers by a junior in a single season.
Due to her stellar hitting ability, she also led the NCAA in walks and walks per game while leading the country in on-base percentage at .639. By mid-season, Coffel was voted a finalist for USA Softball National Player of the Year. Although she did not win the award, she was named an NFCA All-American at the end of the 2023 season.
Now a senior heading into 2024, Coffel has created some big shoes of her own to fill, but her improved performances each season so far show that it should not be too tough of a task.
Coffel has already been named to the 2024 Preseason All-SEC team, along with senior pitcher Stephanie Schoonover, which was announced on Wednesday morning. Coffel and Schoonover make up two out of the 24-member team, which was voted on by all of the head coaches in the conference. This marks the second year in a row that Coffel was named to the team.
Kentucky, projected to finish 10th in the SEC, is set to start its season on Friday, February 9, in the San Diego Tournament in California. The ‘Cats will face off against UC Santa Barbara in their season opener. As for Kentucky’s first home game, the Bellarmine Knights will travel down to Lexington on Wednesday, March 6 in the 2024 home opener.
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