Autum Humes will be UK's starting pitcher today against Northwestern. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Rachel Lawson is “feeling really good” about how Kentucky is playing going into today’s NCAA Tournament opener against Northwestern at noon in Lexington. She has seen the defense improve, senior Autumn Humes has been superb on the mound and the offense has continued to put up big numbers.
However, Lawson knows the regional that also includes No 16 Notre Dame (40-13 17-6 ACC) and Ball State (32-23, 14-5 MAC) along with Northwestern (28-21, 14-8 Big Ten) will not be easy to win.
“Northwestern is probably the best No. 4 seed in the history of softball,” Lawson said. “This is not your traditional tournament.”
Lawson knows the Kentucky (39-13, 13-11)-Northwestern winner will be “set up” for the rest of the double-elimination tournament that ends Sunday.
“We have played a tough schedule. They have an outstanding pitcher (Danielle Williams who is 16-6 with a 2.15 ERA and 176 strikeout in 143 innings) that I hope our schedule has prepared us for,” the Kentucky coach said.
“Twelve of the 13 SEC teams got into the tournament this year and the previous three years all 13 did. We are kind of the pro league of softball. There are good players everywhere in the country but the coaching, preparation, scouting, resources, and facilities are just better in the SEC. We face elite pitching and All-American hitters every time we step on the field in SEC play.”
Humes brings a 20-7 record and 2.93 ERA into the game. She has 139 strikeouts in 156 innings and has given up 19 home runs.
“Autumn has somehow picked up a little bit of speed (at the end of the season),” Lawson said. “She has put the team on her back and just carried us.”
Lawson would not commit to pitching Humes in UK’s second game Saturday because she’s too worried about game one.
“Northwestern should be the No. 2 seed and we should be facing them in game two,” Lawson said. “They were a No. 1 seed in 2019 when this pitcher was a freshman. Autumn definitely gets the ball in game one but what happens after that will depend on how things set up.
“This is going to be the first time we have played in the heat in Kentucky all season. That will also play a part in the pitching plans. (Miranda) Stoddard has looked really good the last few weeks. Right now she has won the third base job. She’s an elite pitcher but has no postseason experience and it kind of messes up our defense to put her on the mound. So we will just see how things play out.”
