University of North Texas Athletics
Softball Adds Pair of Transfers for 2023
6/28/2022 9:43:00 AM | Softball
DENTON — UNT softball has added a pair of transfers to the 2023 roster in redshirt freshman utility player Tatum Sparks and sophomore outfielder Rylee Nicholson, head coach Rodney DeLong announced Tuesday.
Sparks appeared in one game for Oklahoma State last season and was granted a redshirt for the 2022 season.
The Oklahoma native was the No. 25 prospect in her class coming out of Shawnee High School after hitting .538 in her senior season while adding 14 home runs and 53 RBI. She finished the 2020 season with a 1.220 slugging percentage to help earn District 6A-3 offensive player of the year and first-team all-region honoree.
Sparks also earned District 6A-3 first-team shortstop her junior year, District 5A-3 offensive player of the year her sophomore year, and District 5A-3 first-team utility player her freshman year.
Nicholson played in 47 games for South Dakota last season and will play her sophomore season for North Texas.
The Frisco native hit .237 in 2022 and finished the season with 27 hits, eight doubles, two triples, three home runs, 18 RBI, and 26 runs for the Coyotes.
She enjoyed a career day against Creighton on April 26 when she finished 2-for-3 with one run and season-highs in both RBI (3) and doubles (2).
Nicholson graduated from Hebron High School, where she was a 2021 TGCA 6A All-State honoree and was recognized by the Dallas Morning-News as an all-area player and as district co-newcomer of the year.
Sparks appeared in one game for Oklahoma State last season and was granted a redshirt for the 2022 season.
The Oklahoma native was the No. 25 prospect in her class coming out of Shawnee High School after hitting .538 in her senior season while adding 14 home runs and 53 RBI. She finished the 2020 season with a 1.220 slugging percentage to help earn District 6A-3 offensive player of the year and first-team all-region honoree.
Sparks also earned District 6A-3 first-team shortstop her junior year, District 5A-3 offensive player of the year her sophomore year, and District 5A-3 first-team utility player her freshman year.
Nicholson played in 47 games for South Dakota last season and will play her sophomore season for North Texas.
The Frisco native hit .237 in 2022 and finished the season with 27 hits, eight doubles, two triples, three home runs, 18 RBI, and 26 runs for the Coyotes.
She enjoyed a career day against Creighton on April 26 when she finished 2-for-3 with one run and season-highs in both RBI (3) and doubles (2).
Nicholson graduated from Hebron High School, where she was a 2021 TGCA 6A All-State honoree and was recognized by the Dallas Morning-News as an all-area player and as district co-newcomer of the year.
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