By Tyler Spanyer | @KernelSpanyer

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In just her sixth season at the helm, UK head coach Rachel Lawson moved into sole possession of first place on UK softball’s all-time wins list as she surpassed legendary coach Beth Pruit with her 182nd win Wednesday afternoon against Eastern Kentucky.

“It feels great to be number one in wins,” UK head coach Rachel Lawson said following the doubleheader. “It’s a great reminder of all the people who helped me get here. Starting with coach John Cropp who hired me and then Mitch Barnhart who has given me everything I could ask for as a coach, and I’m just really thankful.”

Lawson has had a stellar career at UK which includes 35 wins over top-25 teams including 12 wins over top-five opponents.

The record-breaking win came against in-state rival EKU in the first game of the doubleheader. UK went on to win game two as well, giving Lawson win number 183.

In game one, junior first baseman and pitcher Lauren Cumbess put the team on her back as she hit and pitched the Cats to a 6-2 win over the Colonels. Cumbess got things started early with a RBI single in the first, bringing home freshman infielder Maisie Steed to give the Cats the early lead.

Steed would then add to UK’s lead with a solo home run in the third inning to make the score 2-0. UK would extend the lead to 3-0 before EKU climbed back within a run in the sixth inning.

Cumbess and freshman infielder Nikki Sagermann smashed home runs in the top of the seventh for insurance as UK went on to win 6-2.

In game two of the doubleheader, UK got off to a slow start as freshman pitcher Kelsey Nunley allowed a run in the first inning as the Cats fell behind 1-0. UK quickly evened the score as senior outfielder Alice O’Brien hit her fifth home run of the season to tie the score at one. Junior infielder Krystal Smith drove home junior outfielder Ginny Carroll as UK took a 2-1.

In the bottom of the second, EKU would add two runs, making the score 3-2.

EKU would hold on to the lead until the top of the seventh, when the Cats would mount their second seventh-inning comeback in three games. O’Brien would come through in the clutch as her two-RBI single would prove to be the game-winner.

Nunley picked up her 19th win of the year, tying her for the single-season record for wins by a pitcher with Chanda Bell and Keary Camunas.

“We didn’t play particularly well but the fact that we stayed in it and were able to come back in the seventh shows our toughness, and we will need that if we want to make a deep run in the postseason,” Lawson said.

UK will host SEC rival Florida in a weekend series at the new UK Softball Complex that will include a dedication ceremony for the new stadium before the game Saturday afternoon.