Kentucky believed it could play with Alabama and showed that it could

Kentucky third baseman Miranda Stoddard heads to the dugout while Alabama players celebrate behind her after the win put them in the College World Series. (Vicky Graff Photo)

It was not the ending Kentucky coach Rachel Lawson wanted but it was also an ending she appreciated and kept in perspective.

Kentucky lost 4-3 at No. 3 Alabama Friday and then 4-1 Saturday in the second game of the Super Regional to have its season end. The Cats finished 43-16 overall, tied for fifth in the Southeastern Conference, hosted a NCAA Regional for the seventh time, and did not have a single positive COVID test all season.

“This is one of the teams when the season started that if you had told me we would end up in Supers, I would have believed it because I love the program and have a lot of pride but I knew it would be an uphill battle,” said Lawson after Saturday’s loss.”

Lawson was glad her players had a season after the 2020 season was cut short by COVID. But she also understood the Super Regional challenge — Alabama was on a 16-game win streak and had numerous “super seniors” in the starting lineup who took advantage of a do-over senior season.

“Our team had one super senior (pitcher Autumn Humes) who was incredibly pivotal in our season. She helped carry the team all year but we were young and inexperienced,” Lawson said. ”

Lawson, as she had many times during the season, said she was proud of her team’s resiliency.

“We were such an unknown. We were the only people who believed we could end up playing Alabama this close,” the Kentucky coach said. “Nobody was giving us a shot of getting here.”

Lawson thought by the end of the SEC season, UK could make a run. Its defense was better in part because the team’s middle infielders had finally had time to adjust to each other.

“I thought we could end up at the World Series,” Lawson said. “A lot had to do with the draw. This was not the best draw for us. If we had a different draw (other than playing at Alabama), maybe we would be having a better discussion.

“You have got to take care of business at the start of the year to not end up like this. Alabama is not a great matchup for anybody.”