University of North Texas Athletics
Softball Adds Seven Transfers to 2027 Roster
7/10/2026 1:00:00 PM | Softball
DENTON – UNT softball signed seven players from the transfer portal to the 2026-27 roster, head coach Cody White announced on Friday.
The seven-player portal class features Preslee Downing (Oklahoma State), Haley Gardella (Cameron), Jentrie Gibson (Seminole State), Ari Maxwell (Abilene Christian), Taryn Newton (Liberty), Maggie Place (Grand Canyon) and Nevaeh Watkins (Missouri).
"This transfer class checks every box we set out to address this in this cycle," White said. "We prioritized our pitching depth and brought in some really talented arms. We also searched and found dynamic and versatile pieces to add to our lineup that will impact winning immediately. Most importantly, every player we added is a quality human being that will fit the culture we're building here at UNT. We're excited to get them to Denton and continue raising the standard for Mean Green softball."
Including right-handed pitcher Riley Mays (Grayson College), who signed with the Mean Green during the winter transfer portal window in January, UNT added a total of five transfer pitchers, three outfielders and one utility player in Gardella.
The eight total transfer signees will join eight returning letter winners and five freshmen to bring the roster to 21 players ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Additional information on each of the seven signees can be found below:
Preslee Downing | P/UT | 2nd Year | 5-5 | Oklahoma State | Owasso, Okla. (Owasso HS)
Played one season at Oklahoma State (2026) … Finished with a 5-1 record over 19 appearances including 12 starts in the circle … Tallied 22 strikeouts and a 4.48 ERA over 40 2/3 innings pitched with the Cowgirls … Recorded three complete games including one solo shutout and one combined shutout as a freshman … Tossed a five inning complete game shutout with three strikeouts in her collegiate debut versus San Jose State on Feb. 6, 2026 … Established career high of four strikeouts over a five inning complete game against Kansas City on Feb. 19, 2026 … Struck out four over four shutout innings with no walks in a combined shutout over Brown on Feb. 21, 2026 … Spun a six inning complete game victory with three strikeouts against Southeast Missouri State on Feb. 27, 2026 … Collected a win as she gave up one unearned run over 3 2/3 innings pitched on two hits and zero walks at Baylor on April 25, 2026 … Threw two scoreless innings versus No. 24 Arizona State in the semifinal of the Big 12 Tournament on May 8, 2026 … Recorded the final two outs in the circle at No. 1 Nebraska in the NCAA Super Regionals on May 22, 2026 … Played for the Sarasota Circus of the Florida Gulf Coast League (FGCL) in the summer of 2026 … Named FGCL All-Star selection for Team Sun … Flipped her college commitment from Stephen F. Austin to OSU … Four-year letter winner at Owasso High School, graduating in 2025 … Ranked as the No. 14 overall recruit in the 2025 Extra Elite 100 by Extra Innings Softball … Named the 2025 Tulsa World All-World Player of the Year after guiding the Rams to the 6A state championship as a senior … Posted a 24-3 record in the circle in 2025 with a 1.10 ERA and 261 strikeouts over 162 1/3 innings pitched … Helped Owasso claim four consecutive regional titles … Finished prep career with a 76-9 record, 1.11 ERA and 705 strikeouts … Named First Team Large East All-State and All-Region selection as a senior … Three-time district pitcher of the year award winner … Threw a perfect game in the 2023 Regional Championship … Earned an honorable mention selection for District 6A-4 as a sophomore in 2022 … Played travel ball for Oklahoma Athletics and head coach Brian Madden … Brother, Chris Goodman, played football at Central Oklahoma (2025).
Haley Gardella | UT | 3rd Year | 5-7 | Cameron | Royse City, Texas (Royse City HS)
Played two seasons at Cameron University (2025-26) … Named NFCA Division II Second Team All-Region in 2026 … Two-time First Team All-Lone Star Conference (LSC) selection at designated player … Named to the LSC All-Freshman Team at catcher/third base in 2025 … Appeared in 104 games including 103 starts in two seasons with the Aggies … Posted a .394 batting average with 127 hits, including 58 for extra bases … Tallied 31 home runs, 27 doubles for 247 total bases and a .767 slugging percentage … Recorded 106 RBI and scored 66 runs over her first two years … Collected 50 walks and seven hit-by-pitches for a .484 on-base percentage … Finished tied for seventh in Division II with 19 home runs in 2026 … Ranked 23rd in slugging percentage (.802), 24th in total bases (138) and 28th in RBI (61) across DII in her second season … Posted second career multi-homer game with two along with five RBI versus Augustana on Feb. 1, 2026 … Collected four hits including two home runs and six RBI against Northwestern Oklahoma on Feb. 11, 2026 … Scored three runs on three hits with three RBI and a home run against Midwestern State on Feb. 27, 2026 … Tallied fourth career two-home run performance versus UT Permian Basin on March 14, 2026 … Matched career-high mark of three runs scored at Western New Mexico on March 20, 2026 … Drew career high four walks against UT Dallas on April 29, 2026 … Registered her first career hit with a three-run home run in her collegiate debut against Southwest Baptist on Feb. 7, 2025 … Finished 3-for-3 with six RBI and first career grand slam versus Midwestern State on Feb. 24, 2025 … Dropped two home runs with three RBI at Western New Mexico on March 2, 2025 … Listed on the LSC Commissioner's Honor Roll three times … Graduated from Cameron with a Bachelor of Science in Sports and Exercise Science in May 2026 … Signed with Harding University in November 2023, never appeared for the Bisons … Four-year letter winner at Royse City High School, graduating in 2024 … Helped the Bulldogs to the 5A Region 2 Semifinals as a sophomore … Four-time all-district selection with first team nods in 2022 and 2024, second team in 2021 and 2023 … Listed as an NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete and to the District 10-6A All-Academic team as a senior … Two-time Texas High School Women's Powerlifting Association (THSWPA) state champion … Played travel ball for Texas Blaze … Named to the 2024 Alliance Fastpitch All-Star Game Watch List.
Jentrie Gibson | OF | 3rd Year | 5-8 | Seminole State | Chandler, Okla. (Davenport HS)
Played two seasons at Seminole State (2025-26) … Named NJCAA First Team All-Region selection as a sophomore … Appeared in 99 games for the Trojans, primarily in center field … Posted a .344 career batting average with 85 hits … Recorded 69 runs scored, 36 RBI and 35 stolen bases … Swatted 13 extra-base hits, including three home runs, for a .425 slugging percentage … Made her collegiate debut in game one versus Cowley County Community College on Feb. 5, 2025, before scoring her first career run in game two … Posted her first career hit with a single against Western Oklahoma State College on Feb. 8, 2025 … Collected her first career stolen base with two hits and a run scored versus Western Oklahoma State on Feb. 15, 2025 … Tallied a triple for her first career extra-base hit and finished with three RBI and two runs scored at Northern Oklahoma College-Enid on April 12, 2025 … Dropped her first career home run and finished with two runs scored and two RBI at Northern Oklahoma College-Enid on March 23, 2026 … Tallied four hits with one RBI and one run scored at Eastern Oklahoma State College on April 9, 2026 … Recorded five runs scored and four RBI on four hits with a home run and two stolen bases in game one against Carl Albert State College on April 21, 2026 … Stole three bases and scored three runs on two hits with two RBI in game two versus Carl Albert on April 21, 2026 … Scored three runs on three hits with two stolen bases against Connors State College on April 27, 2026 … Graduated from Seminole State in May 2026 … Named to the Seminole State President's Honor Roll in all four semesters … Graduated from Chandler High School in 2024 … Won district championships in fastpitch softball and basketball as a freshman at Chandler High School … Competed in both fastpitch and slowpitch softball along with basketball at Davenport High School as a sophomore and junior … Named an all-conference selection in basketball as a junior at Davenport … Played travel ball for Oklahoma Pure Fastpitch and was coached by her father, Jeremy Gibson.
Ari Maxwell | OF | 3rd Year | 5-10 | Abilene Christian | Edmond, Okla. (Memorial HS)
Played two seasons at Abilene Christian (2025-26) … Named Second Team All-WAC as a sophomore … Appeared in 86 games including 78 starts for the Wildcats … Posted a .297 batting average with 71 hits over two seasons at ACU … Tallied 127 total bases with 14 home runs for a slugging percentage of .531 … Collected 39 runs scored, 34 RBI and five stolen bases … Finished tied for sixth in the WAC with 12 home runs as a sophomore … Led ACU in seven offensive categories including runs scored (32), hits (47) and RBI (29) in 2026 … Registered six hits including a solo home run in four games against UNT as a sophomore … Established season-high mark of three hits adding two runs and her first career stolen base versus South Dakota State on Feb. 11, 2026 … Drove in her first RBI of the season with two hits against Northern Illinois on Feb. 13, 2026 … Dropped career best two home runs and four RBI against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Feb. 28, 2026 … Collected her first career triple and scored two runs at Utah on March 12, 2026 … Matched her season high of three hits including a solo home run against UT Arlington on March 20, 2026 … Posted two runs, two hits, two RBI against Tarleton State on April 3, 2026 … Scored career-high three runs on two hits and a walk at Utah Tech on May 2, 2026 … Tagged her first career hit with a double versus Baylor on Feb. 6, 2025 … Posted her first career multi-hit game with two runs on two hits against Villanova on Feb. 7, 2025 … Popped first career home run at Seattle on March 8, 2025 … Set career-high mark of five hits including a solo home run at UT Arlington on March 21, 2025 … Finished with two hits including a double at No. 11 Texas Tech on April 29, 2025 … Played senior season at Edmond Memorial High School, graduating in 2024 … Helped lead the Lady Bulldogs to the finals of the OSSAA 6A Fastpitch State Championship … Named Second Team All-Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference (COAC) as a senior … Added All-District and All-Region honors in 2024 … Three-year letter winner and multi-sport athlete at Bishop McGuinness High School … Honored as a two-time Big All-City selection (2021-22) with the Irish … Set the single-season school home run record at Bishop McGuinness as a sophomore … Won the 2021 OSSAA 5A State Championship in the 4x400m relay as a freshman … Placed third in long jump at the 2022 OSSAA 5A State Championships … Played travel ball for Epic Fastpitch and head coach Scotty Smith … Father, Vernon, was a second round pick in the 1996 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres and played three seasons in the minor leagues for the Padres and New York Yankees (1996-99) … Brother, Sandro, played football at Air Force (2018-21).
Taryn Newton | RHP | 2nd Year | 6-4 | Liberty | New Port Richey, Fla. (James W. Mitchell HS)
Spent one season at Liberty (2026) … Retained redshirt after she did not appear for the Flames … Played for the Manatee Seacows of the Florida Gulf Coast League (FGCL) in the summer of 2026 … Named FGCL All-Star selection for Team Sun … Four-year letter winner at James W. Mitchell High School, graduating in 2025 … Helped lead the Mustangs to the 6A state semifinals as a sophomore … Named 2024 Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) West Pitcher of the Year as a junior … Three-time SAC West All-Conference selection with first team honors in 2023 and 2024 … Suffered season-ending injury as a senior … Multi-sport athlete with varsity letters in volleyball … Played travel ball for Rock Gold and head coach Johnny Manetta … Won the 2023 PGF 18U Premier National Championship in Irvine, Calif. … Mother, Deann Wilson, played both softball and volleyball at Western Oregon and is currently the head volleyball coach at Pasco-Hernando State College (New Port Richey, Fla.) … Brother, Austin Newton, played baseball at South Florida before being drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 10th round of the 2025 MLB Draft.
Maggie Place | RHP | 4th Year | 5-9 | Grand Canyon | Washington, Okla. (Washington HS)
Played two seasons at Grand Canyon (2025-26) … Named to the 2025 WAC All-Tournament Team as a sophomore … Recorded a 17-3 record with six saves and 2.26 ERA over 127 innings pitched with the Lopes … Totaled 75 strikeouts over 53 pitching appearances with two complete games, one solo shutout and nine combined shutouts … Finished 2025 as the conference saves leader with four, tied for 26th in Division I … Threw a complete game shutout over six innings on four hits and no walks with two strikeouts against Montana on Feb. 9, 2025 … Recorded five strikeouts over three one-hit innings in a combined shutout against North Dakota on Feb. 15, 2025 … Earned the win with 4 2/3 shutout innings as a reliever versus Arizona State on Feb. 18, 2025 … Tossed eight shutout innings with five strikeouts in the WAC Championship finals over Tarleton State on May 10, 2025 … Registered 1 2/3 innings pitched in relief at No. 12 Arizona in the Tucson Regional on May 17, 2025 … Posted a career high seven strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings against Southern Utah on Feb. 7, 2026 … Spun 4 2/3 innings with three strikeouts in a combined shutout over Montana on Feb. 20, 2026 … Threw a scoreless three-inning save with three strikeouts against UC Riverside on Feb. 28, 2026 … Tallied a win with three scoreless innings and no hits in an extra-innings victory over Wisconsin on March 5, 2026 … Played one season at Oklahoma Baptist (2024) … Named Great American Conference (GAC) Freshman of the Year … Member of the 2024 All-GAC Second Team … Finished 17-8 with one save and a 2.01 ERA as a freshman … Collected 93 strikeouts over 135 2/3 innings pitched with the Bison … Spun 11 complete games including three solo shutouts and one combined shutout … Made her collegiate debut with 1 2/3 relief innings pitched versus Augustana on Feb. 1, 2024 … Struck out six over six innings in her first career start at Mississippi College on Feb. 2, 2024 … Tossed her first complete game shutout and added six strikeouts against Northwestern Oklahoma on March 2, 2024 … Spun a four-hit shutout with five strikeouts over Northeastern State on April 16, 2024 … Claimed a complete game victory with five strikeouts in the elimination game of the NCAA Division II Central Regional versus Southern Arkansas on May 10, 2024 … Awarded CSC Academic All-District honors as a sophomore at GCU … Honored as an NFCA/Easton All-America Scholar-Athlete as a freshman at OBU … Played three summer seasons (2024-26) for the Lakeland Ranch Rodeo of the Florida Gulf Coast League (FGCL) … Winner of the 2024 FGCL Pitcher of the Year award … Four-year letter winner at Washington High School, graduating in 2023 … Helped lead the Warriors to three softball state championships, two in fastpitch (2021-22) and one in slowpitch (2022) … Named First Team Middle West All-State, First Team Little All-City, NFCA First Team All-Region and District Pitcher of the Year as a senior … Honored as District 3A-3 Most Valuable Player as a junior … Played travel ball for Gametime Stars Fastpitch … Coached by former Mean Green assistant Kady Self in travel ball.
Nevaeh Watkins | OF | 3rd Year | 5-2 | Missouri | Rowlett, Texas (Sachse HS)
Played two seasons at Missouri (2025-26) … Appeared in 30 career games including seven starts, primarily as an outfielder and pinch runner … Tallied eight runs scored, six hits and two stolen bases in two years with the Tigers … Recorded 19 putouts with one error for a .950 fielding percentage … Made her collegiate debut at Kentucky on March 9, 2025 … Collected a pinch hit RBI single in her first career at-bat versus Kansas City on March 16, 2025 … Posted her first career start in left field against Southern Illinois on April 9, 2025 … Notched career-best mark of two hits with one run and a walk in an upset victory over No. 1 Texas A&M on April 18, 2025 … Scored two runs with one hit and one stolen base versus BYU on Feb. 7, 2026 … Tallied second two-run game against South Alabama on Feb. 8, 2026 … Earned SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll distinction in 2026 … Named to the 2024-25 First-Year Academic SEC Honor Roll … Four-year letter winner at Sachse High School, graduating in 2024 … Ranked No. 31 in the Extra Elite 100 for the Class of 2024 by Extra Inning Softball … Named District 9-6A Most Valuable Player as a senior … Listed as 2024 First Team All-Area selection by The Dallas Morning News … Earned District 9-6A Defensive Player of the Year as a junior … Four-time First Team All-District selection … Named to the 2022 DFW Fastpitch All-Metroplex Second Team … Played travel ball for Texas Glory and head coach Kevin Shelton … Member of Team USA at the inaugural Triple Crown International Challenge in 2020 … Uncle, Chris Hill, was a track athlete at Arkansas State (2016-21).
The seven-player portal class features Preslee Downing (Oklahoma State), Haley Gardella (Cameron), Jentrie Gibson (Seminole State), Ari Maxwell (Abilene Christian), Taryn Newton (Liberty), Maggie Place (Grand Canyon) and Nevaeh Watkins (Missouri).
"This transfer class checks every box we set out to address this in this cycle," White said. "We prioritized our pitching depth and brought in some really talented arms. We also searched and found dynamic and versatile pieces to add to our lineup that will impact winning immediately. Most importantly, every player we added is a quality human being that will fit the culture we're building here at UNT. We're excited to get them to Denton and continue raising the standard for Mean Green softball."
Including right-handed pitcher Riley Mays (Grayson College), who signed with the Mean Green during the winter transfer portal window in January, UNT added a total of five transfer pitchers, three outfielders and one utility player in Gardella.
The eight total transfer signees will join eight returning letter winners and five freshmen to bring the roster to 21 players ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Additional information on each of the seven signees can be found below:
Preslee Downing | P/UT | 2nd Year | 5-5 | Oklahoma State | Owasso, Okla. (Owasso HS)
Played one season at Oklahoma State (2026) … Finished with a 5-1 record over 19 appearances including 12 starts in the circle … Tallied 22 strikeouts and a 4.48 ERA over 40 2/3 innings pitched with the Cowgirls … Recorded three complete games including one solo shutout and one combined shutout as a freshman … Tossed a five inning complete game shutout with three strikeouts in her collegiate debut versus San Jose State on Feb. 6, 2026 … Established career high of four strikeouts over a five inning complete game against Kansas City on Feb. 19, 2026 … Struck out four over four shutout innings with no walks in a combined shutout over Brown on Feb. 21, 2026 … Spun a six inning complete game victory with three strikeouts against Southeast Missouri State on Feb. 27, 2026 … Collected a win as she gave up one unearned run over 3 2/3 innings pitched on two hits and zero walks at Baylor on April 25, 2026 … Threw two scoreless innings versus No. 24 Arizona State in the semifinal of the Big 12 Tournament on May 8, 2026 … Recorded the final two outs in the circle at No. 1 Nebraska in the NCAA Super Regionals on May 22, 2026 … Played for the Sarasota Circus of the Florida Gulf Coast League (FGCL) in the summer of 2026 … Named FGCL All-Star selection for Team Sun … Flipped her college commitment from Stephen F. Austin to OSU … Four-year letter winner at Owasso High School, graduating in 2025 … Ranked as the No. 14 overall recruit in the 2025 Extra Elite 100 by Extra Innings Softball … Named the 2025 Tulsa World All-World Player of the Year after guiding the Rams to the 6A state championship as a senior … Posted a 24-3 record in the circle in 2025 with a 1.10 ERA and 261 strikeouts over 162 1/3 innings pitched … Helped Owasso claim four consecutive regional titles … Finished prep career with a 76-9 record, 1.11 ERA and 705 strikeouts … Named First Team Large East All-State and All-Region selection as a senior … Three-time district pitcher of the year award winner … Threw a perfect game in the 2023 Regional Championship … Earned an honorable mention selection for District 6A-4 as a sophomore in 2022 … Played travel ball for Oklahoma Athletics and head coach Brian Madden … Brother, Chris Goodman, played football at Central Oklahoma (2025).
Haley Gardella | UT | 3rd Year | 5-7 | Cameron | Royse City, Texas (Royse City HS)
Played two seasons at Cameron University (2025-26) … Named NFCA Division II Second Team All-Region in 2026 … Two-time First Team All-Lone Star Conference (LSC) selection at designated player … Named to the LSC All-Freshman Team at catcher/third base in 2025 … Appeared in 104 games including 103 starts in two seasons with the Aggies … Posted a .394 batting average with 127 hits, including 58 for extra bases … Tallied 31 home runs, 27 doubles for 247 total bases and a .767 slugging percentage … Recorded 106 RBI and scored 66 runs over her first two years … Collected 50 walks and seven hit-by-pitches for a .484 on-base percentage … Finished tied for seventh in Division II with 19 home runs in 2026 … Ranked 23rd in slugging percentage (.802), 24th in total bases (138) and 28th in RBI (61) across DII in her second season … Posted second career multi-homer game with two along with five RBI versus Augustana on Feb. 1, 2026 … Collected four hits including two home runs and six RBI against Northwestern Oklahoma on Feb. 11, 2026 … Scored three runs on three hits with three RBI and a home run against Midwestern State on Feb. 27, 2026 … Tallied fourth career two-home run performance versus UT Permian Basin on March 14, 2026 … Matched career-high mark of three runs scored at Western New Mexico on March 20, 2026 … Drew career high four walks against UT Dallas on April 29, 2026 … Registered her first career hit with a three-run home run in her collegiate debut against Southwest Baptist on Feb. 7, 2025 … Finished 3-for-3 with six RBI and first career grand slam versus Midwestern State on Feb. 24, 2025 … Dropped two home runs with three RBI at Western New Mexico on March 2, 2025 … Listed on the LSC Commissioner's Honor Roll three times … Graduated from Cameron with a Bachelor of Science in Sports and Exercise Science in May 2026 … Signed with Harding University in November 2023, never appeared for the Bisons … Four-year letter winner at Royse City High School, graduating in 2024 … Helped the Bulldogs to the 5A Region 2 Semifinals as a sophomore … Four-time all-district selection with first team nods in 2022 and 2024, second team in 2021 and 2023 … Listed as an NFCA All-America Scholar Athlete and to the District 10-6A All-Academic team as a senior … Two-time Texas High School Women's Powerlifting Association (THSWPA) state champion … Played travel ball for Texas Blaze … Named to the 2024 Alliance Fastpitch All-Star Game Watch List.
Jentrie Gibson | OF | 3rd Year | 5-8 | Seminole State | Chandler, Okla. (Davenport HS)
Played two seasons at Seminole State (2025-26) … Named NJCAA First Team All-Region selection as a sophomore … Appeared in 99 games for the Trojans, primarily in center field … Posted a .344 career batting average with 85 hits … Recorded 69 runs scored, 36 RBI and 35 stolen bases … Swatted 13 extra-base hits, including three home runs, for a .425 slugging percentage … Made her collegiate debut in game one versus Cowley County Community College on Feb. 5, 2025, before scoring her first career run in game two … Posted her first career hit with a single against Western Oklahoma State College on Feb. 8, 2025 … Collected her first career stolen base with two hits and a run scored versus Western Oklahoma State on Feb. 15, 2025 … Tallied a triple for her first career extra-base hit and finished with three RBI and two runs scored at Northern Oklahoma College-Enid on April 12, 2025 … Dropped her first career home run and finished with two runs scored and two RBI at Northern Oklahoma College-Enid on March 23, 2026 … Tallied four hits with one RBI and one run scored at Eastern Oklahoma State College on April 9, 2026 … Recorded five runs scored and four RBI on four hits with a home run and two stolen bases in game one against Carl Albert State College on April 21, 2026 … Stole three bases and scored three runs on two hits with two RBI in game two versus Carl Albert on April 21, 2026 … Scored three runs on three hits with two stolen bases against Connors State College on April 27, 2026 … Graduated from Seminole State in May 2026 … Named to the Seminole State President's Honor Roll in all four semesters … Graduated from Chandler High School in 2024 … Won district championships in fastpitch softball and basketball as a freshman at Chandler High School … Competed in both fastpitch and slowpitch softball along with basketball at Davenport High School as a sophomore and junior … Named an all-conference selection in basketball as a junior at Davenport … Played travel ball for Oklahoma Pure Fastpitch and was coached by her father, Jeremy Gibson.
Ari Maxwell | OF | 3rd Year | 5-10 | Abilene Christian | Edmond, Okla. (Memorial HS)
Played two seasons at Abilene Christian (2025-26) … Named Second Team All-WAC as a sophomore … Appeared in 86 games including 78 starts for the Wildcats … Posted a .297 batting average with 71 hits over two seasons at ACU … Tallied 127 total bases with 14 home runs for a slugging percentage of .531 … Collected 39 runs scored, 34 RBI and five stolen bases … Finished tied for sixth in the WAC with 12 home runs as a sophomore … Led ACU in seven offensive categories including runs scored (32), hits (47) and RBI (29) in 2026 … Registered six hits including a solo home run in four games against UNT as a sophomore … Established season-high mark of three hits adding two runs and her first career stolen base versus South Dakota State on Feb. 11, 2026 … Drove in her first RBI of the season with two hits against Northern Illinois on Feb. 13, 2026 … Dropped career best two home runs and four RBI against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Feb. 28, 2026 … Collected her first career triple and scored two runs at Utah on March 12, 2026 … Matched her season high of three hits including a solo home run against UT Arlington on March 20, 2026 … Posted two runs, two hits, two RBI against Tarleton State on April 3, 2026 … Scored career-high three runs on two hits and a walk at Utah Tech on May 2, 2026 … Tagged her first career hit with a double versus Baylor on Feb. 6, 2025 … Posted her first career multi-hit game with two runs on two hits against Villanova on Feb. 7, 2025 … Popped first career home run at Seattle on March 8, 2025 … Set career-high mark of five hits including a solo home run at UT Arlington on March 21, 2025 … Finished with two hits including a double at No. 11 Texas Tech on April 29, 2025 … Played senior season at Edmond Memorial High School, graduating in 2024 … Helped lead the Lady Bulldogs to the finals of the OSSAA 6A Fastpitch State Championship … Named Second Team All-Central Oklahoma Athletic Conference (COAC) as a senior … Added All-District and All-Region honors in 2024 … Three-year letter winner and multi-sport athlete at Bishop McGuinness High School … Honored as a two-time Big All-City selection (2021-22) with the Irish … Set the single-season school home run record at Bishop McGuinness as a sophomore … Won the 2021 OSSAA 5A State Championship in the 4x400m relay as a freshman … Placed third in long jump at the 2022 OSSAA 5A State Championships … Played travel ball for Epic Fastpitch and head coach Scotty Smith … Father, Vernon, was a second round pick in the 1996 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres and played three seasons in the minor leagues for the Padres and New York Yankees (1996-99) … Brother, Sandro, played football at Air Force (2018-21).
Taryn Newton | RHP | 2nd Year | 6-4 | Liberty | New Port Richey, Fla. (James W. Mitchell HS)
Spent one season at Liberty (2026) … Retained redshirt after she did not appear for the Flames … Played for the Manatee Seacows of the Florida Gulf Coast League (FGCL) in the summer of 2026 … Named FGCL All-Star selection for Team Sun … Four-year letter winner at James W. Mitchell High School, graduating in 2025 … Helped lead the Mustangs to the 6A state semifinals as a sophomore … Named 2024 Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) West Pitcher of the Year as a junior … Three-time SAC West All-Conference selection with first team honors in 2023 and 2024 … Suffered season-ending injury as a senior … Multi-sport athlete with varsity letters in volleyball … Played travel ball for Rock Gold and head coach Johnny Manetta … Won the 2023 PGF 18U Premier National Championship in Irvine, Calif. … Mother, Deann Wilson, played both softball and volleyball at Western Oregon and is currently the head volleyball coach at Pasco-Hernando State College (New Port Richey, Fla.) … Brother, Austin Newton, played baseball at South Florida before being drafted by the Colorado Rockies in the 10th round of the 2025 MLB Draft.
Maggie Place | RHP | 4th Year | 5-9 | Grand Canyon | Washington, Okla. (Washington HS)
Played two seasons at Grand Canyon (2025-26) … Named to the 2025 WAC All-Tournament Team as a sophomore … Recorded a 17-3 record with six saves and 2.26 ERA over 127 innings pitched with the Lopes … Totaled 75 strikeouts over 53 pitching appearances with two complete games, one solo shutout and nine combined shutouts … Finished 2025 as the conference saves leader with four, tied for 26th in Division I … Threw a complete game shutout over six innings on four hits and no walks with two strikeouts against Montana on Feb. 9, 2025 … Recorded five strikeouts over three one-hit innings in a combined shutout against North Dakota on Feb. 15, 2025 … Earned the win with 4 2/3 shutout innings as a reliever versus Arizona State on Feb. 18, 2025 … Tossed eight shutout innings with five strikeouts in the WAC Championship finals over Tarleton State on May 10, 2025 … Registered 1 2/3 innings pitched in relief at No. 12 Arizona in the Tucson Regional on May 17, 2025 … Posted a career high seven strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings against Southern Utah on Feb. 7, 2026 … Spun 4 2/3 innings with three strikeouts in a combined shutout over Montana on Feb. 20, 2026 … Threw a scoreless three-inning save with three strikeouts against UC Riverside on Feb. 28, 2026 … Tallied a win with three scoreless innings and no hits in an extra-innings victory over Wisconsin on March 5, 2026 … Played one season at Oklahoma Baptist (2024) … Named Great American Conference (GAC) Freshman of the Year … Member of the 2024 All-GAC Second Team … Finished 17-8 with one save and a 2.01 ERA as a freshman … Collected 93 strikeouts over 135 2/3 innings pitched with the Bison … Spun 11 complete games including three solo shutouts and one combined shutout … Made her collegiate debut with 1 2/3 relief innings pitched versus Augustana on Feb. 1, 2024 … Struck out six over six innings in her first career start at Mississippi College on Feb. 2, 2024 … Tossed her first complete game shutout and added six strikeouts against Northwestern Oklahoma on March 2, 2024 … Spun a four-hit shutout with five strikeouts over Northeastern State on April 16, 2024 … Claimed a complete game victory with five strikeouts in the elimination game of the NCAA Division II Central Regional versus Southern Arkansas on May 10, 2024 … Awarded CSC Academic All-District honors as a sophomore at GCU … Honored as an NFCA/Easton All-America Scholar-Athlete as a freshman at OBU … Played three summer seasons (2024-26) for the Lakeland Ranch Rodeo of the Florida Gulf Coast League (FGCL) … Winner of the 2024 FGCL Pitcher of the Year award … Four-year letter winner at Washington High School, graduating in 2023 … Helped lead the Warriors to three softball state championships, two in fastpitch (2021-22) and one in slowpitch (2022) … Named First Team Middle West All-State, First Team Little All-City, NFCA First Team All-Region and District Pitcher of the Year as a senior … Honored as District 3A-3 Most Valuable Player as a junior … Played travel ball for Gametime Stars Fastpitch … Coached by former Mean Green assistant Kady Self in travel ball.
Nevaeh Watkins | OF | 3rd Year | 5-2 | Missouri | Rowlett, Texas (Sachse HS)
Played two seasons at Missouri (2025-26) … Appeared in 30 career games including seven starts, primarily as an outfielder and pinch runner … Tallied eight runs scored, six hits and two stolen bases in two years with the Tigers … Recorded 19 putouts with one error for a .950 fielding percentage … Made her collegiate debut at Kentucky on March 9, 2025 … Collected a pinch hit RBI single in her first career at-bat versus Kansas City on March 16, 2025 … Posted her first career start in left field against Southern Illinois on April 9, 2025 … Notched career-best mark of two hits with one run and a walk in an upset victory over No. 1 Texas A&M on April 18, 2025 … Scored two runs with one hit and one stolen base versus BYU on Feb. 7, 2026 … Tallied second two-run game against South Alabama on Feb. 8, 2026 … Earned SEC Spring Academic Honor Roll distinction in 2026 … Named to the 2024-25 First-Year Academic SEC Honor Roll … Four-year letter winner at Sachse High School, graduating in 2024 … Ranked No. 31 in the Extra Elite 100 for the Class of 2024 by Extra Inning Softball … Named District 9-6A Most Valuable Player as a senior … Listed as 2024 First Team All-Area selection by The Dallas Morning News … Earned District 9-6A Defensive Player of the Year as a junior … Four-time First Team All-District selection … Named to the 2022 DFW Fastpitch All-Metroplex Second Team … Played travel ball for Texas Glory and head coach Kevin Shelton … Member of Team USA at the inaugural Triple Crown International Challenge in 2020 … Uncle, Chris Hill, was a track athlete at Arkansas State (2016-21).
Players Mentioned
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