Rachel Lawson and the Kentucky Wildcat softball team ended last season on the wrong end of a sweep by the Oregon Ducks in the NCAA Super Regional last summer.

However, the Hittin' Kittens return 16 players from the successful 2017 campaign and are poised to make a run towards Oklahoma City.

The media and coaches agree as they ranked UK in the Top 20 in their respective polls released this week.

The Cats are ranked No. 13 in the USA Softball/ESPN.com Poll, the highest preseason ranking in program history.

The USA Today/NFCA Coaches' Poll has the squad four spots lower at no. 17 in the nation.

Kentucky is one of nine SEC teams ranked in the Top 25 and eight in the Top 15.

Defending national runner-up Florida opens the season at no. 2. LSU, Alabama, and Texas A&M join the Gators in the Top 10.

Tennessee, Auburn, and Ole Miss join the Cats' in the Top 15. The Georgia Bulldogs are the lowest ranked SEC team coming in at no. 25.

South Carolina and Arkansas also received votes.

Minnesota is the only ranked non-conference opponent the Wildcats will face.

The opening pitch for Kentucky's season will be at 6:00 P.M. on February 6 against the New Mexico State Aggies in Los Cruces.