March 19, 2011

ORLANDO, Fla. – Senior Megan Yocke was selected as the ninth overall pick in the National Pro Fastpitch College Senior Draft, Friday in Orlando, Fla. Yocke was taken at the start of the third round and selected by the NPF Diamonds.

This marks the second consecutive season a member of the Kentucky softball program has been drafted by the professional softball league. Current assistant coach Molly Johnson was the second overall player selected in 2010.

Yocke has enjoyed a terrific week in addition to her name being called on draft day. The senior from Sunnyvale, Calif., was named the USA Softball National Player of the Week on Tuesday after helping UK to an SEC series-opening win over then ranked No. 7 Tennessee. Yocke batted .556 for the series and blasted a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh to force extra innings in which UK eventually prevailed.

On Wednesday, Yocke began a five-run 11th inning rally with a solo home run to help UK sweep Arkansas on the road in a mid-week doubleheader. In the first game of the LSU series Friday evening, Yocke led off the game with a solo round tripper to mark the third home run in four games for Kentucky’s senior catcher.

For her career, Yocke is breaking into UK’s all-time career records. She recently became just the ninth player in school history to tally 100 RBI. She currently ranks third in putouts, and is steadily rising up the charts in nearly every other offensive category.

Yocke and the Wildcats are looking to capture a series win over LSU for the first time in school history. UK and LSU face off for a 2:07 p.m. ET start Saturday.

Complete coverage of the UK softball team can be found at UKathletics.com all season long.