Abby Hammond had a game-winning home run in her second collegiate game. (UK Athletics Photo)
Kentucky coach Rachel Lawson says there is “no question pitching is our strength” for the 2026 softball season even though UK went only 31-28 last year.
“Sarah Haendiges did awesome last year on the mound. We won two of our first three SEC series and then she went down and we have big hopes for her this year”, said Lawson. “Carson Fall is just a sophomore, but she finished the season strong and is better.”
Kentucky is 6-4 after a 10-game swing to California to open the season. Haendiges has pitched in five games with a 2-1 record and 5.79 ERA. Fall is 1-1 after four appearances.
Eastern Illinois transfer McKenzie Oslanzi had 41 wins the last two years with a 2.24 ERA and 280 strikeouts in 377 innings. She was the 2024 Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year and 2025 OVC Pitcher of the Year. She has appeared in a team-high six games with a team-low 1.76 ERA.
“She was injured in the ball but is back. She could be elite. We are expecting big things out of her,” the Kentucky coach said.
Lawson also expects freshman Hailey Nutter, a national championship winner at the youth level, to be a major contributor. She threw a no-hitter in her first start and is 3-1 with a 3.38 ERA.
However, the key to the pitching staff’s success could be freshman Abby Hammond of Lexington Catholic, a two-time Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year with 1,132 career strikeouts. She was also a prolific high school hitter with a .571 career batting average, but her pitching is what Kentucky needs most this season.
“We have power pitchers who can really spin the ball but later in games that can be high risk, high reward,” Lawson said. “Somebody like Abby can come in and mitigate those risks. She could be a starter, but she is a really good person to bring in late in game. She can keep the pitch count low and that’s what you want from a reliever.”
Lawson compared her to Mariano Rivera, one of baseball’s all-time great closers known for his precise control.
“She throws drop balls and keeps hitters off balance changing speeds. For Abby to have the success we need her to have, it is essential we clean up our defense,” Lawson said.
“Abby is awesome, she is 18, 19 going on 37 because she is so mature. She has an incredible work ethic, great vision and is so coachable. She knows what to do with information, but it does not slow her down. Her energy is always off the charts and I know we can rely on her.
“Offensively, she is very elite and will be a two-way player. Things players usually do not come into college with; she is already fine tuning and building on what she does.”
Hammond obviously was never a relief pitcher at Lexington Catholic, but she did fill that role at times on travel teams.
“I do like coming in as a reliever. It’s a challenge, for sure, because you don’t know what situation you’re going to come into, but I think it’s really exciting,” Hammond said. “You get thrown into situations and you want to be the person that is reliable. I’m excited to support the team in whatever role that is and come in with a calm mindset.
“You have to be calm to be able to stop whatever situation is happening on the bases or whatever and try to get outs for your team.”
Hammond never looks rattled on the field; a sign of the maturity Lawson likes. However, the UK freshman admits looks can be deceiving.
“I can get a little bit nervous. I’m sure I’ll be nervous this year, but I think the thing that works for me the best is just a deep breath,” Hammond said. “I can do that and you are not showing you are rattled. That’s something we’ve really emphasized at UK, just taking a deep breath, resetting your mind.
“Honestly, that’s something new I have learned. I wasn’t really very good at that before I got here. So I hope I will not get rattled. I think what I show on the outside is kind of what I’m feeling on the inside. I think I’m good at showing confidence when I’m pitching, but usually that’s how I’m feeling on the inside too. I have to trust all the preparation and work that I’ve put in and go with it.”
Hammond also likes the trust she had developed with teammates going into the season.
“I love the experience we have on the team. We have a couple of fifth-year seniors and lots of leaders on the team that have really been great about bringing us freshmen in and giving us a lot of advice, “the former Lexington Catholic standout said. “That’s going to take us a long way because obviously we haven’t experienced things they have. They’ve been so great about helping us with everything, including little things like packing for trips.
“Those older players are showing us the way to be a Kentucky softball player. That initial trust started from competing in practice when they would give us advice on how to hit certain pitches. It has been great to build that bond. We hang out outside of practice. We’re going out to eat. It has been fun to get to know a new group of girls and have that trust.
“We want to be a team that’s fun to watch this year, and to be fun to watch, you have to have that bond with each other or else. If you can’t trust each other, you’re never going to be able to trust anyone else or what they say. So that’s been really important for us.”
Hammond came into the season battling a minor injury and made just two appearances on the mound for a total of two innings. She did start three games and hit .308 in seven games, including a game-winning home run in her second collegiate game.
