Kentucky coach Rachel Lawson hugged Vanessa Nesby before Saturday's game. (Vicky Graff Photo)
She might have been the smallest player on the field but Vanessa Nesby had the biggest hit of the game for Kentucky Saturday in a 3-1 comeback win over South Carolina.
Kentucky trailed 1-0 going into the bottom of the sixth inning before tying the score when Grace Lorsung scored as Jaden Vickers reached base on an error. Nesby followed with a line shot to left center that turned into a triple and scored the go-ahead run. Nesby scored on Rylea Smith’s triple.
It was a great way for Nesby, one of eight UK seniors, to celebrate Senior Day. She got a hug from coach Rachel Lawson during pregame ceremonies and the coach was waiting to do the same again when the game ended.
“Really cool for her to be able to come up with a big hit,” Lawson said. “She’s been somebody who has been a mainstay for us the whole time. I’m always getting on our short gamers to be able to hit it to the outfield. For her to be able to save it for this game on senior day, I just thought it was a really special moment for her.”
Nesby said it was a “hug of love” from Lawson after the needed win for No. 21 Kentucky.
“I think it was just a hug like you play for years here and you want to have those big moments and you get those big moments. So it was a hug of a great job putting in the work,” Nesby said. “I’m glad to do it on a special day celebrating everybody. I think it was just a hug of love and success on both sides.”
Nesby tried to downplay her big moment by praising Stephannie Schoonover’s complete game that notched her 17th win and Smith’s key RBI triple.
“Everyone contributed in small parts to the win and Steph pitched amazing,” Nesby said. “You do always want to play in that big moment, so I just took advantage of it. Coming up clutch for the team is awesome.”
Nesby has had other big moments in her career but admits the Senior Day hit will “rank up there pretty high” with any other moment in her UK career.
“Big crowd, teammates yelling, family here. So this will be a great memory,” the senior outfielder said.
Nesby admitted it was special before the game standing on the field with her family along with her senior teammates and their families.
“Everybody wants to do their best and show up for Senior Day and see what they can do for the team,” Nesby said. “Coach Lawson always says we do our best when we work together.”
The mothers of the eight seniors all threw a ceremonial first pitch before the game. Nesby said her mother’s first reaction when she told her about that was that she had to practice.
“I was like, you don’t have to practice. It’s okay, I swear,” Nesby laughed and said.
Lawson appreciates all the seniors did considering they were the “COVID class” that missed its final high school season and then had numerous restrictions during their first season in college.
“They had campus lockdowns and big stretches where they were away from campus, so the fact that they were able to stay loyal to the BBN and continue to fight through the beginning years and to continue to go to this moment really says a lot about their character,” Lawson said about the win.
Nesby came from California to play at Kentucky because it was a “great opportunity” and she’s never had any regrets.
“Everybody always wants to play big and take those big chances and it was an SEC school and coach Lawson and her staff welcomed me with open arms so I’m glad I’ve been here all four years. It’s been a great four years,” Nesby said.
UK Softball Senior Day
Photos by Vicky Graff
