Three Kentucky softball players earn First Team All-SEC honors

The Kentucky Softball team had six different student-athletes named to eight postseason honors, the Southeastern Conference announced Friday morning. The SEC postseason honors are voted on by the SEC head coaches. 

Three Kentucky players were named First Team All-SEC, including Erin Coffel, Lauren Johnson and Kayla Kowalik – all three of whom were named first team all-conference for the first time in their collegiate careers. 

Renee Abernathy and Tatum Spangler were voted Second Team All-SEC, with Abernathy also taking home SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, which was announced Thursday prior to UK’s quarterfinal game in the SEC Tournament. 

Kentucky placed three on the SEC All-Defensive Team, including Spangler (P), Kowalik (C) and Rylea Smith (RF).

Arkansas’ KB Sides was named the SEC Player of the Year, Auburn’s Bri Ellis was voted as the SEC Freshman of the Year and Arkansas’ Chenise Delse was named the SEC Pitcher of the Year. Courtney Diefel, who led Arkansas to its second-straight SEC title, was named the SEC Coach of the Year for the second year in a row.

Erin Coffel; First Team All-SEC

• .412 batting average
• 17 home runs
• 58 RBI
• 27 extra base hits

Lauren Johnson; First Team All-SEC

• .390 batting average
• 50 runs scored
• Eight home runs
• 21 extra base hits

Kayla Kowalik; First Team All-SEC, All-Defensive Team (C)

• .413 batting average
• 69 hits, 9 doubles, 2 triples and 5 HR’s
• 15 stolen bases
• 26 RBI

Renee Abernathy; Second Team All-SEC

• .331 batting average
• 13 HR
• 47 RBI
• 20 extra base hits

Tatum Spangler; Second Team All-SEC; SEC All-Defensive Team (P)

• 1.77 ERA
• 9-2 record
• 59.1 innings pitched
• 47 strikeouts

Rylea Smith; SEC All-Defensive Team (RF)

• No errors in SEC play
• Four doubles
• .317 batting average
• 10 RBI