Erin Coffel (UK Athletics Photo)
Erin Coffel likely has to play beyond her years this weekend if Kentucky is going to beat Alabama in the Super Regional in Tuscaloosa to reach the College World Series for only the second team. The freshman is Kentucky’s starting shortstop — and has been for all 57 games this year — and is also the team’s leading home run hitter with 16 and RBI producer with 56.
She’s been tested by fire all season, including last week’s regional in Lexington when her mental error played a big role in UK losing to Notre Dame and then having to win three straight games to make the Super Regional.
Does UK coach Rachel Lawson worry if she might be overwhelmed on the big stage this weekend starting with today’s 1 p.m. matchup with No. 3 Alabama, a team that has won 16 straight games — and beat UK in the SEC Tournament two weeks ago?
“Big moments are something she has been in a lot of. She won (Indiana) state championships,” Lawson said. “She played high-level travel ball and those tournaments are hard.
“She has been in big moments and is a big-time player.”
Coffel is hitting .343 this season but was 2-for-11 in NCAA regional play when she drove in two runs. She also had four errors — but none in the final two wins over Notre Dame that got UK to the Super Regional.
Lawson believed the way the regional ended helped get Coffel back on track for this weekend.
“She had to get those nerves out,” Lawson said Thursday. “She was able to calm down Sunday (in the doubleheader sweep of Notre Dame) and play her game and loosen up and play shortstop.
“You never know what will happen on the field but if anybody can handle it, it is Erin.”
Lawson said inexperience will not be a problem for Alabama. The Crimson Tide starts only two players who are not seniors or super seniors — players who came back for an extra year due to COVID stopping the 2020 season.
“It’s just the opposite of us,” Lawson said. “Erin is 18 or 19, I’m not sure, and her counterpart is a super senior. They do have a veteran team. They are incredibly strong.”
Yet Kentucky did win two of three games from Alabama in Lexington March to start SEC play. That series win is an edge for UK going into today’s game against No. 3 Alabama.
“The fact we were able to play with them and beat them gives us a boost,” Lawson said. “It was in Lexington. The crowd was such a boost. Playing them in the SEC Tournament was also helpful because we were in that environment. We have confidence knowing we beat them.”
