June 15, 2015
LEXINGTON, Ky. — After making its fourth trip to a NCAA Super Regional in the last five seasons, the University of Kentucky softball team has finished the 2015 season ranked inside the top 20 of both the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 and ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25.
Kentucky, which finished the season with a 32-26 record, was ranked No. 17 in both rankings, marking the third straight season the Wildcats have ranked inside the top 20 in both final rankings. Last season, Kentucky earned its highest final ranking in program history at No. 6 in both polls before finishing the 2013 season at No. 12/14.
The Wildcats had a successful 2015 season that ended in the NCAA Gainesville Super Regional to Florida, who claimed its second consecutive national championship in the Women’s College World Series. UK made its seventh consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament this spring, becoming one of just 21 schools in the nation to claim that honor. The Wildcats went 3-0 in the NCAA South Bend Regional, defeating Northwestern, Ball State and host Notre Dame to advance to their third straight Super Regional — one of only nine schools in the nation that have achieved that. Overall, Kentucky defeated seven teams ranked inside the top 25 in 2015, including five that were ranked top five at the time UK defeated them, including the program’s first-ever win over a No. 1 ranked team.
The 30-win season for Kentucky was its seventh straight under head coach Rachel Lawson. Prior to Lawson’s eight-year tenure, the Wildcats had achieved 30 wins in a season one time and never advanced to a NCAA Tournament. Lawson has accomplished both feats in each of the last seven seasons and is the winningest head coach in program history. During Lawson’s tenure, Kentucky has defeated 62 ranked foes, including 35 top-10 teams and 19 top-five teams.
Coach Lawson to throw out first pitch at Monday’s Lexington Legends game: Kentucky softball head coach Rachel Lawson will throw out the ceremonial first pitch Monday night at Whitaker Bank Ballpark when the Lexington Legends take on the Greensboro Grasshoppers at 7:05 p.m. ET. Tickets are available online at LexingtonLegends.com.
For more information on the Kentucky softball team, visit UKathletics.com or follow @UKSoftball on Twitter and Instagram or Kentucky Softball on Facebook.
