Kentucky hopes to celebrate winning another NCAA regional this weekend. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Kentucky softball coach Rachel Lawson has seen a lot of things she has liked at John Cropp Stadium this season from her team but saw something different at the stadium this week she really liked. Kentucky facility operations staff was cutting the ropes off that had blocked off seats at the stadium all season.
“I am hoping that means things (more seats) are opening up,” Lawson said Thursday on WPBK-FM.
Kentucky is hosting an NCAA Tournament regional this weekend. UK plays Northwestern today at noon followed by Notre Dame-Ball State. Tickets for today’s game are sold out and Lawson knows UK fans can make a difference in the regional outcome like they have done in the past when Kentucky hosted NCAA regionals.
“I am certain that the last three years or so our crowd is the reason we have gone on to the Super (Regional),” the Kentucky coach said. “The energy we get from BBN is unreal. When the other teams’ pitchers get in tight situations, our fans get louder and impact those pitchers.
“A big part of the reason we have gone on to the Supers is because of the support our fans give us at this time of year. I am sure it will be the same this year and that’s why I was so happy to see more seats maybe opening up for the regional this weekend.”
Lawson said it’s harder to predict what might happen in this weekend’s regional because there were not the normal matchups of elite teams in non-conference play due to pandemic protocols.
However, don’t doubt that there is some animosity between the SEC and Big Ten.
“None of the Big Ten likes the SEC. If they get a chance to take a shot at the SEC, they do it,” Lawson said. “I’m like, ‘What do you want us to do? It is what it is.’ But when they get a win over the SEC in anything, they go crazy and want to start that overrated chant.”
