Four Wildcats Named NFCA All-Region Recipients
LEXINGTON, Ky. – The National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association announced that four Kentucky Softball players were named to its annual All-Region Team, thus qualifying them to be in the pool for All-America status to be announced later this month.
Erin Coffel and Kayla Kowalik were both named First Team All-Region, with outfielders Lauren Johnson and Renee Abernathy both earning Third Team All-Region honors. It is the second All-Region honor for Kowalik, Abernathy and Coffel with Johnson joining the esteemed club for the first time in her career.
Kentucky kicks off NCAA Tournament play Friday at 4:30 p.m. ET against Miami (OH) in the 2022 Blacksburg Regional with the game streamed live on ESPN+ with Pam Ward and Jenny Dalton-Hill on the call from Tech Softball Park.
Erin Coffel, First Team All-Region
- 2022 First Team All-SEC
- Two-time SEC Player of the Week
- NFCA National Player of the Week
- Hitting .412 with 17 HR and 58 RBI
Kayla Kowalik, First Team All-Region
- First Team All-SEC
- SEC All-Defensive Team (C)
- Hitting .413 with 5 HR and 26 RBI
- Nine doubles, two triples
Renee Abernathy, Third Team All-Region
- CATSPY Winner for Scholar-Athlete of the Year
- Second Team All-SEC
- 4.00 GPA in Health Human Sciences
- 12 multi-hit games this year
Lauren Johnson, Third Team All-Region
- First Team All-SEC
- .390 batting average with 8 HR’s and 39 RBI
- Currently on a 5-game hit streak headed into postseason
- Seven three-hit games
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