Kentucky Softball counts four NFCA All-Region Recipients

Kentucky Softball is rounding up a historic season with four athletes named to the National Fastpitch Coaches’ Association’s All-Region Team.

Wildcats Erin Coffel and Kayla Kowalik were both named to the First Team All-Region. They were both named First Team All-SEC earlier this season. Coffel also set the record for most RBIs in a season at Kentucky with 67 RBIs.

Outfielders Lauren Johnson and Renee Abernathy were both named Third Team All-Region. Johnson was named First Team All-SEC as well, with Abernathy named Second Team All-SEC.

This qualifies them for All-American status, to be named later this month.

Abernathy and Coffel set a program record for most home runs scored by a duo in a season at 34.

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
• Seven three-hit games

The NFCA recognition comes after a historic season for the ‘Cats.

Kentucky finished up their season after an exciting comeback win against Virginia Tech before eventually losing out in the Blacksburg Regional Final to the Hokies 5-4.

The’Cats set five records during the 2022 season, including batting average, hits, home runs, RBIs, and total bases.

.@UKsoftball program records set or tied this season:

– Runs Scored (381) (tied record)

– Batting Average (.333)

– Hits (506)

– Home Runs (85)

– RBI (353)

– Total Bases (858)

— Corey Price (@coreyp08) May 22, 2022

The ‘Cats also tied the record for runs scored at 381 for the 2022 season. Kentucky closes the season with a 38-19 overall record in head coach Rachel Lawson’s 15th season in charge.