Dec. 2, 2014
LEXINGTON, Ky. – University of Kentucky softball head coach Rachel Lawson has announced the completion of her 2014-15 coaching staff, adding Ashley Lane as a volunteer assistant coach, Jessica Bump as a graduate assistant director of analytics and Lauren Cumbess as a graduate assistant director of operations.
Lane, Bump and Cumbess join Lawson, who is entering her eighth season as Kentucky’s head coach, associate head coach Kristine Himes, who is also in her eighth season at UK, and assistant coach Molly Johnson-Belcher, who is in her fifth season on the UK staff.
Lane, a two-time National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American at Michigan, will work closely with UK hitters to help improve the Wildcats offensively.
The native of Escondido, Calif., Lane was an impressive all-around player at Michigan, finishing her career ranked high in several career categories, including fourth in home runs with 47, fourth in slugging percentage at .615 and fifth in runs batted in with 171. Lane’s best season was her final at Michigan in 2013, hitting a career-best .363 with 18 home runs, adding a game-winning home run and two-run double against Louisiana-Lafayette in a NCAA Super Regional to guide the Wolverines to the Women’s College World Series.
Lane was considered one of the best hitters in the nation during her time at UM as she was named to the 2012 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List and was invited to USA Softball Women’s National Team Selection Camp in 2011. Lane was NFCA All-America third team in 2013 and NFCA All-America second team in 2011 on top of helping the Wolverines claim four consecutive Big Ten Championships.
Prior to joining the Kentucky staff, Lane was an assistant softball coach at Brighton High School, where she helped develop Brighton’s infielders, outfielders and hitters.
Bump comes to Kentucky after a successful career as an all-conference player at Binghamton University where she was named Binghamton University Co-Female Athlete of the Year in 2013.
Bump, who will work closely with the full-time coaching staff on all aspects of the program, was a two-time, first-team all-conference selection at Binghamton during her dazzling four-year career as an infielder. She finished her career with 25 home runs, 97 RBI, 35 doubles, eight triples and a program-record 63 stolen bases. Bump had 38 career multiple-hit games to go along with two grand slams and an eight-game hitting streak.
Bump, who was the American East Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2013, hit .310 as a senior with the Bearcats, showing a balance of power and speed, ranking second on the team with nine homers, while leading the team with 34 stolen bases. Her junior season, Bump was named a Eastern Collegiate Athletic Association All-Star, hitting .349 with 10 homers, 36 RBI and a program record 46 runs scored, ranking near the top in the conference in several offensive categories.
After ending her playing career in the WCWS last season, Cumbess stays in the UK softball family as its director of operations, helping the full-time staff with all day-to-day logistical aspects of the program.
Cumbess recently completed a success four-year career as a pitcher and first baseman for the Wildcats, ending her career as one of the most prolific hitters in program history. The native of Winter Haven, Fla., and Normal, Ill., ended her playing days ranked fourth all time in games played with 236, fourth in runs batted in with 118, seventh in doubles with 37, fifth in home runs with 26 and eighth in total bases with 310. In the circle, Cumbess ranks top 10 in all-time appearances with the fifth-best ERA at 2.83 and third-best opponent batting average at .215. Cumbess’ 29 wins rank tied for sixth most on UK’s career listing.
Cumbess, who was named UK’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2013 and 2014 by her peers, paced UK last season with a .315 average, adding 12 doubles, one triple, 10 homers, 41 RBI and a .532 slugging percentage. Against Southeastern Conference competition, Cumbess hit .328 with four homers and 12 RBI. The slugger hit well in the WCWS with four hits, two RBI and a double. Cumbess led Kentucky on the season with 18 multi-hit games and 14 multi-RBI games.
Kentucky recently completed a successful fall season and will begin its 2015 schedule in early February. Last season, the Wildcats had a banner year, advancing to the school’s first ever WCWS behind a program-best 50 wins.
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