BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Texas A&M softball welcomes back a seasoned pitching corps with four returners and two newbies for the upcoming 2021 campaign.
The veteran roster is highlighted by graduate transfer Kelsey Broadus, senior Kayla Poynter along with juniors Makinzy Herzog and Hannah Mayo. Underclassmen contributors include sophomore Shaylee Ackerman and freshman Grace Uribe.
"The depth and versatility of our pitching staff is a great strength for our team this season," Texas A&M pitching coach Kara Dill said. "With a mix of experience levels, individual growth has been a top priority. As a staff I have watched them compete day in and day out with each other which has made them both mentally and physically stronger. They all want the ball, they feed off each other's successes and rise to the occasion when their number is called."
#28 Kelsey Broadus (Gr.| Albany, Oregon)
Broadus joins the Aggies' roster after a four-year career at Boise State. There, the left-hander posted a career 44-22 record with 388 strikeouts. In the shortened 2020 season, she led the team with an 8-5 record with an ERA of 2.94. In 2018 she was the first Bronco to be named the Mountain West Pitcher of the Year while also earning second-team NFCA All-Pacific Region honors.
#6 Kayla Poynter (Sr.| Loganville, Georgia)
Poynter paced the Aggies' staff in 2020, finishing the season 7-2. The Loganville, Georgia, native appeared in 11 games and started in seven to collect 58.1 innings of play. The righty handed out 54 strikeouts while posting a 1.68 ERA. Back in 2020, Poynter set a career-high of 16 strikeouts against Abilene Christian.
#24 Makinzy Herzog (Jr.| Missouri City, Texas)
Herzog appeared in seven games with four starts in her first season wearing the Maroon & White. The dual-threat registered 28 strikeouts in 25.2 innings of work to post a 0.82 ERA. She tallied two of the team's four shutout wins along with two saves for a 3-0 mark. When she's not in the circle, she finds success in the outfield thanks to her defensive efforts as well as her swing in the lineup.
#14 Hannah Mayo (Jr.| Corpus Christi, Texas)
Mayo appeared in six games for the Aggies registering 12 innings of action. The junior combined for seven strikeouts and held her opponents to two earned runs. She tallied two of team's four saves posting a 1.17 ERA.
#10 Shaylee Ackerman (So.| Mesa, Arizona)
Depended upon heavily for her legs in the outfield, Ackerman did not see much action in the circle. Come the turn of the 2021 season the 5-foot-10 right-hander is ready to make her mark.
#8 Grace Uribe (Fr.| Huntington Beach, California)
Uribe calls Aggieland home after a four-year stint playing at Huntington Beach High School. There, the Orange County Pitcher of the Year logged 207 career strikeouts. The rookie is ranked No. 25 by Extra Innings Softball as a pitcher and No. 50 in the 2020 Extra Elite Top 100 List. As a sophomore, she posted a 1.33 ERA and registered a 1.99 ERA in her junior campaign.
The veteran roster is highlighted by graduate transfer Kelsey Broadus, senior Kayla Poynter along with juniors Makinzy Herzog and Hannah Mayo. Underclassmen contributors include sophomore Shaylee Ackerman and freshman Grace Uribe.
"The depth and versatility of our pitching staff is a great strength for our team this season," Texas A&M pitching coach Kara Dill said. "With a mix of experience levels, individual growth has been a top priority. As a staff I have watched them compete day in and day out with each other which has made them both mentally and physically stronger. They all want the ball, they feed off each other's successes and rise to the occasion when their number is called."
#28 Kelsey Broadus (Gr.| Albany, Oregon)
Broadus joins the Aggies' roster after a four-year career at Boise State. There, the left-hander posted a career 44-22 record with 388 strikeouts. In the shortened 2020 season, she led the team with an 8-5 record with an ERA of 2.94. In 2018 she was the first Bronco to be named the Mountain West Pitcher of the Year while also earning second-team NFCA All-Pacific Region honors.
#6 Kayla Poynter (Sr.| Loganville, Georgia)
Poynter paced the Aggies' staff in 2020, finishing the season 7-2. The Loganville, Georgia, native appeared in 11 games and started in seven to collect 58.1 innings of play. The righty handed out 54 strikeouts while posting a 1.68 ERA. Back in 2020, Poynter set a career-high of 16 strikeouts against Abilene Christian.
#24 Makinzy Herzog (Jr.| Missouri City, Texas)
Herzog appeared in seven games with four starts in her first season wearing the Maroon & White. The dual-threat registered 28 strikeouts in 25.2 innings of work to post a 0.82 ERA. She tallied two of the team's four shutout wins along with two saves for a 3-0 mark. When she's not in the circle, she finds success in the outfield thanks to her defensive efforts as well as her swing in the lineup.
#14 Hannah Mayo (Jr.| Corpus Christi, Texas)
Mayo appeared in six games for the Aggies registering 12 innings of action. The junior combined for seven strikeouts and held her opponents to two earned runs. She tallied two of team's four saves posting a 1.17 ERA.
#10 Shaylee Ackerman (So.| Mesa, Arizona)
Depended upon heavily for her legs in the outfield, Ackerman did not see much action in the circle. Come the turn of the 2021 season the 5-foot-10 right-hander is ready to make her mark.
#8 Grace Uribe (Fr.| Huntington Beach, California)
Uribe calls Aggieland home after a four-year stint playing at Huntington Beach High School. There, the Orange County Pitcher of the Year logged 207 career strikeouts. The rookie is ranked No. 25 by Extra Innings Softball as a pitcher and No. 50 in the 2020 Extra Elite Top 100 List. As a sophomore, she posted a 1.33 ERA and registered a 1.99 ERA in her junior campaign.