Feb. 11, 2010

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Senior Molly Johnson was selected as the second overall pick in the National Pro Fastpitch College Senior Draft by the Tennessee Diamonds, Wednesday night from the Heritage Key Resort. Johnson became the first player in Kentucky history to be drafted in the professional league.

“This is such an honor for me and it speaks volumes about Coach Lawson and the Kentucky program,” Johnson said. “I would not have this opportunity without her guidance and our team’s recent success. I am excited about the possibility of furthering my career once my senior season is complete.”

Johnson is coming off a junior campaign in which she became Kentucky’s first All-America selection in school history when she earned second team status by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. She was also a first team All-SEC selection as a junior, and has earned All-SEC distinction in each of her three seasons. The SEC Coaches selected her as a preseason All-Conference player for the 2010 season earlier this week.

This summer she played with Team USA at the Japan Cup where she belted a grand slam to help Team USA defeat the host Japanese team. In January Johnson was selected as an alternate for Team USA in 2010.

At Kentucky she is a .395 lifetime batter with 74 career extra base hits while starting all 162 games of her career. Twice in her career she has had hitting streaks of 10 games.

In her junior season she set school records for hits (81) and runs scored (53) for a single season. As a sophomore she set the single-season record with 20 doubles.

Johnson and the Wildcats kick off the 2010 season at No. 5 Arizona State tonight at 9 p.m. ET.

Stay tuned to UKathletics.com for the most up-to-date information about the UK softball team.