Kelsey Nunley Named Preseason All-SEC

LEXINGTON, Ky. – For the second year running, senior pitcher Kelsey Nunley was named preseason All-Southeastern Conference, it was announced by the league office on Thursday afternoon. 

Nunley finished the 2015 season with 14 wins and over 200 innings pitched, allowing just 73 runs and striking out over 150 batters, while leading the Kentucky softball team to its fourth Super Regional in the past five seasons a year ago.

The Soddy Daisy, Tenn., native had a 2.42 earned run average in 2015, and allowed just a .229 opposing batting average. Nunley broke the school record for career wins, with her 69th-career all-time win against Western Kentucky, where she pitched nine scoreless innings with nine strikeouts to capture the record-setting win.

Nunley has racked up pre, post, and mid-season accolades during her tenure under head coach Rachel Lawson, including three SEC Player of the Week awards, 2014 Women’s College World Series All-Tournament Team, All-SEC Freshman Team in 2013, as well as preseason All-America in 2015. 

Kentucky will start the season on Feb. 12 at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz., against No. 24 Notre Dame on Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. ET, before also facing No. 6 Oregon, No. 22 Arizona State and RV Utah to kick off the year.

All-SEC Preseason Team

Emily Carosone, Auburn (IF)

Kasey Cooper, Auburn (IF)

Kelsey Stewart, Florida (IF)

Alex Hugo, Georgia (IF)

Bianka Bell, LSU (IF)

Haylie McCleney, Alabama (OF)

Tiffany Howard, Auburn (OF)

Kirsti Merritt, Florida (OF)

Alaynie Page, South Carolina (OF)

Alexis Osorio, Alabama (P)

Kelsey Nunley, Kentucky (P)

Carley Hoover, LSU (P)

Aubree Monro, Florida (C)

Rainey Gaffin, Tennessee (UTL)

For the latest on the Kentucky softball team, follow @UKSoftball on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, as well as on the web at UKathletics.com.