Softball 7/18/2024 11:13:00 AM

UCO Softball Adds Three Transfer Standouts

Perennial national softball power Central Oklahoma has added three premiere transfers to its roster in advance of the 2025 season.

Joining the Bronchos this fall will be senior pitcher Sydney Ward from Southern Arkansas, junior first baseman/catcher Kennedy Clark from Oklahoma Baptist and utility Macie Andrews from New Mexico.

"We're super excited to have these three young ladies join our program," head coach Cody White said. "Sydney and Kennedy both played at an extremely high level for two of the top programs in Division II and Macie gained a lot of experience at the Division I level last year.

"We expect them to step in and have a big impact on our team next spring. They're all eager to start working with our returning players and we're happy to have them part of the Broncho family."

Ward enjoyed a sensational three-year career at SAU, garnering first-team All-Great American Conference honors each season before graduating last spring. She finished with a 57-22 career record – the second-most wins in SAU history – and a 2.12 earned run average while striking out 451 batters in 511.1 innings while leading the Muleriders to three straight national tournament appearances.

Ward went 16-4 with a 2.98 ERA while fanning 145 in 141.0 innings as a freshman in 2022, then came back the next season to go 24-7 with a 2.88 ERA and 170 strikeouts in 200.0 innings.

The hard-throwing right-hander had a 17-11 record and tidy 1.82 ERA last season. She struck out 141 in 169.1 innings with a trio of 10-strikeout games and threw six shutouts, including a five-inning no-hitter against Henderson State.

Ward was a four-time All-State selection at Paris (Ark.) High School, finishing with a 1.94 career ERA.

Clark was a two-year standout at OBU, helping the Bison win 85 games and capture back-to-back GAC regular season championships.

A native of Richmond, Texas, Clark was a first-team All-GAC selection and the GAC Freshman of the Year in 2023 after batting .378 with 12 doubles, two home runs and 28 runs batted in. She had 14 multi-hit games and finished with a .439 on-base percentage.

Clark hit .284 this past season while again starting all season, adding six doubles and 20 RBIs.

She was an All-District performer and team defensive MVP while at William B. Travis High School in Richmond.

Andrews was a multi-sport standout at Chisholm High School in Enid before starting her collegiate career at New Mexico last spring. She appeared in 31 games with 12 starts in the outfield for the Lobos, hitting .267 with one double and two RBIs.

Andrews was a four-time All-Conference pick and two-time Northwest Oklahoma Player of the Year selection at Chisholm, finishing with a .465 career average and 93 stolen bases. She also placed third-place state finisher in the pole vault for the Longhorns.

UCO has five position starters along with its top three pitchers back from a 43-14 team that made the Division II national tournament for the fourth straight year.

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