Kentucky softball All-American Kayla Kowalik set to return for 5th year

Kentucky softball will get one more year from All-American Kayla Kowalik.

The Wildcat star told BBN Tonight on Wednesday that she will stay in Lexington for her fifth and final year of college eligibility. Kowalik, a three-time All-SEC performer and 2021 All-American, was recently accepted into graduate school and will complete the first year of her MBA program at UK.

“I am fully committed to this program and I really do love it so much,” Kowalik said on BBN Tonight. “I think the first goal is OKC. That has been my goal since I walked in four years ago. I think we can potentially win the SEC. Those are all goals we can achieve and I know Coach Lawson has high standards like I do.”

Kowalik finished her 2021-22 senior year with 57 runs and 28 RBI across 181 at-bats while hitting .420. The New Braunfels, TX native is already considered one of the program’s all-time great players and will only add to her legacy next season. Kowalik owns the records for total runs scored (214), triples hit (21), and career batting percentage (.419). She is just 15 more hits away from setting the school record in that category.

Kentucky, led by longtime head coach Rachel Lawson, figures to return plenty of talent from last season’s team that finished 37-19 overall and 13-11 in the SEC. The ‘Cats were ultimately knocked out of the postseason by Virginia Tech, but with Kowalik back in the fold, should be primed for a deep run in the tournament next year.