Softball team looks to make postseason by playing tough out-of-conference schedule

By Bill Nigut

The UK softball team is looking to doing something it has never done before.

Make the NCAA tournament.

Recognizing great potential in her team, UK head coach Rachel Lawson filled this years schedule with tough out-of-conference matches to prepare for Southeastern Conference play.

In an effort to help her team get ready for conference and potential postseason play, Lawson scheduled the Cats to travel to Lafayette, La., last weekend for the fifth annual Mardi Gras Invitational.

UK was able to top San Diego State on Friday, but struggled through the next two games. The Cats lost to No. 20 Louisiana-Lafayette 5-2 in extra innings and then failed to close the gap against Connecticut the following day, again losing 5-2.

Determined to finish the weekend on a positive note, UK got revenge in its rematch with Connecticut on Sunday morning, defeating the Huskies 5-3. They returned to Lexington 2-2 for the tournament and 5-4 overall.

“I am happy with the effort and the toughness of the team this weekend. We responded every time our back was to the wall,” Lawson said.

Freshman pitcher Chanda Bell and junior shortstop Molly Johnson led the team through the weekend and ended up on the All-Tournament team.

Johnson maintained a .538 batting average and also scored six runs while picking up 11 defensive assists through the four games.

“I was happy to finally produce and help the team,” Johnson said. “But that is what is expected out of me by the coaching staff so I was just doing my job and anything I could to help the team win.”

Bell tossed 12 strikeouts — the second time she has tallied double-digit strikeouts this year — in the Sunday victory, improving her record to 3-1. Just one day earlier she pitched nine innings in a losing effort against Louisiana-Lafayette.

The team is now preparing for the Hatter Classic in Florida, where they look to improve their record against Centenary, Stetson and Maryland.

Johnson stressed the importance of coming out of the weekend with wins. She said if they are able to continue to play well and pick up victories, opponents in and out of the SEC won’t be able to the Cats lightly.

“We need to continue winning and carry a winning record into conference play,”
Johnson said. “I think our team is really excited to start conference because I think we are starting to make a name for ourselves so people can’t take us lightly.”

Lawson said in order for people to not take the Cats lightly, and to reach her goal of postseason play, they will have to win their out-of-conference games to propel them to a winning record.

“If we finish in the middle or top half of the SEC and with above a .500 winning percentage we give ourselves a very good chance of making it to postseason play,” Lawson said.