Sophomore ‘bleeds blue’ while fulfilling her dream

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By Bill Nigut

UK fans need someone who bleeds blue — someone who gets the Kentucky tradition and is proud to represent it. Although most fans usually look for those qualities on the hardwood, UK softball sophomore Meagan Aull has all the things UK fans are looking for.

Aulls’ teammates describe her as the ultimate team player, someone who cares about the school and its tradition as well as her teammates.

“Meagan exudes Kentucky pride,” UK head coach Rachel Lawson said. “She bleeds blue, is a great athlete, a great student and an even better person.”

UK sophomore Meagan Aull has started every game since she came to Lexington. She is currently second on the team in batting average. Photo by Allie Garza | Staff

Aull’s individual performances have been lost in the mix of a season marked as freshman pitcher Chanda Bell’s breakout year and as a group of upperclassmen’s first successful season, but the sophomore center fielder is still making waves.

A center fielder Lawson calls the anchor that solidifies the middle of the defense, Aull is one of few players who can say that she has started every game of her UK career. In the 54 games of her first season she found her way onto the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman team as an outfielder and also earned Academic All-SEC honors. This year, she has started every game and boasts the team’s second best batting average (.331). Aull credits these accomplishments to hard work and said that playing at UK is fulfilling her dream.

“Being All-SEC freshman and having one of the highest batting averages is something that I have been working towards ever since I have been playing softball,” Aull said. “Since I was in high school I knew I wanted to play in the SEC, and Kentucky has given me that opportunity, so it is my job to work hard and get the job done.”

Junior Molly Johnson identified Aull as an unselfish player who not only works hard on her own game, but also helps her teammates grow when she can.

“If I want to take extra cuts I can count on her to stay late or come earlier or do extra on our off days,” Johnson said. “She is also solid both offensively and defensively. She is one of our best hitters and when she gets on base she is always a threat to steal and that makes scoring runs easier for the rest of our offense.”

While Lawson said she believes every player has an equally important leadership role on the team, she identifies Aull as a particularly strong leader on and off the field.

“Meagan Aull is the ultimate competitor. She has what I would consider true grit. With her, I always believe anything is possible,” Lawson said. “She may not always succeed but I never question her desire. She is arguably one of our most reliable players both on offense and defense. And off the field I can count on her to be sensible and to do the right thing even if it is not the popular thing.”

Although she has been good enough to play in every game since the first of her UK career, Aull said she had a lot of growing to do before this year. She took some time to adapt to the college game, but is now in a groove.

“This year has definitely been a lot different in my successes and I have to believe it is because I feel more comfortable,” Aull said. “This is a really exciting year for us because we are finally seeing results from all of our hard work put in during the off season. I am excited about where we are heading in the future.”