Senior Karissa Hamilton became only the second UK softball player ever to hit for the cycle in a recent win. (Vicky Graff Photo)
Senior Karissa Hamilton became only the second Kentucky softball player ever to hit for the cycle when she did that in a win over Northern Illinois earlier this season. She had two-run homer in the first inning, a single in the third inning, and in the fifth inning she got to bat twice and had a double and triple to join Angie Del Pozzo in 2001 as the only UK players to hit for the cycle.
Hamilton, who hit .281 with six home runs in 2025, has led UK in batting average, hits and RBI’s this season after moving from catcher to first base. She is hitting .403 with 18 RBIs.
“I’m really excited about this year. I know it is my last year, but it is exciting to have another year to play softball and this group of girls I am around is pretty amazing,” Hamilton said. “We practiced our butts off in Nutter Field House because of all the cold weather and snow, but whatever (coach Rachel) Lawson is here to give us, that’s what we are willing to accept. Whatever challenges she throws at us, we are willing to face them.
Kentucky is off to a 17-4 start this season with 11 straight wins and Hamilton believes this team is built differently than last year’s team which finished 31-28 overall and 7-17 in SEC play.
“A big strength that we have is that Lawson keeps saying that we’re really resilient and disciplined. We can be very flexible in what we can do. We’re very competitive. We all have this super competitive mindset, and we play as a team,” Hamilton said.
“One of our strengths is that we’re all close and I’m just super excited to see what we can do.”
Part of that flexibility is Hamilton making a move from catcher to first base.
“It has been a challenge, but we are going back to holding each other accountable on defense,” Hamilton said. “So less errors and more amazing plays. The great plays are what we are looking for this year and that’s what is expected.
“We have talked about never letting your foot off the gas and being relentless to end games in five innings. That’s our goal. I know that might be unrealistic to some, but to us that’s really what we’re striving for.”
Kentucky’s freshman class has contributed to the team’s early success and that has not surprised Hamilton. Pitcher Hailey Nutter got off to a 7-1 star with two no-hitters. Katie Hirschy and Maddy Anson have started every game, and Abby Hammond had a two-run, game-winning homer in her second game and threw a one-hit shutout in her first start on the mound.
“The culture this year is something that I have never really been around. The last three years the culture has been great, but there is just something about this team. These freshmen really want to be here and they can all play. They all have different personalities. That’s what I absolutely love,” Hamilton said.
“They’re willing to learn. They’re very resilient and very disciplined. They’re just happy to be playing. All the freshmen really bring the energy that you just have to have. We’ve all grown so close to each other, and as soon as they stepped here on campus, they’ve been super comfortable. They’ve asked all the questions. This has been so fun, getting to know them and playing with them and they are all making us better.”
