USI Softball announces early signings

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—University of Southern Indiana Softball announced that six incoming freshmen have signed national letters of intent to compete for Head Coach Sue Kunkle‘s Screaming Eagles in 2020. The list includes right-handed third baseman/utility player Anna Carroll (Brownsburg, Indiana), right-handed pitcher/utility player Brooklyn Gibbs (Mt. Vernon, Indiana), right-handed pitcher/first baseman Allie Goodin (Evansville, Indiana), right-handed infielder Rachel Martinez (Chicago, Illinois), right-handed infielder Jordan Rager (Fishers, Indiana) and right-handed outfielder/middle infielder Emma Tucher (New Palestine, Indiana).

Anna Carroll is currently a senior at Brownsburg High School where she has earned letters in softball and volleyball during her prep career. She has earned All-County and All-Conference honors each of the previous two years and has earned team MVP honors as a sophomore (offensive) and junior (defensive).

Brooklyn Gibbs is in her final year at Mt. Vernon Senior High School where she has earned letters in both softball and cheer during her career. She earned second-team All-State as a junior in 2018 after garnering third-team All-State honors as a sophomore in 2018. The three-time All-Southwestern Indiana and All-Big 8 Conference honoree led her team to a conference title in 2018 as she hit eight home runs and posted 111 strikeouts.

Allie Goodin is a senior at Mater Dei High School (Evansville, Indiana) where she has earned letters in basketball and softball. Goodin, whose older sister, Emily, pitches for Indiana University, earned All-State honors as a junior in 2018 and is a three-time All-City and two-time All-Conference honoree. She helped MDHS to a state championship during her freshman year in 2016.

Rachel Martinez is finishing up her final year at Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois, where she competed in softball, swimming and volleyball. She earned Pioneer Preps All-Area honorable mention as a freshman in 2016 and was a junior in 2018, while helping FHS to back-to-back regional titles in 2017 and 2018.

Jordan Rager is a senior at Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers, Indiana, where she is has earned letters in softball. An Indy Star All-USA Indianapolis-Area Super Team honorable mention selection in 2018, Rager is career .384 hitter with 12 home runs, 29 doubles and 77 RBIs during her first three years at HSHS. In 2018, Rager hit .406 with 14 doubles, nine home runs and 38 RBIs.

Emma Tucher is in her final year at New Palestine High School, where she earned varsity letters in softball and volleyball. A member of two straight IHSAA Class 3A championship teams, Tucher hit .397 with 20 RBIs and 35 runs scored as a junior in 2018. She hit .400 with 10 RBIs and 25 runs scored as a sophomore in 2017.

“We are excited to welcome this group to USI and our softball family,” Kunkle said. “It is a strong and versatile class that provides us offensive and defensive firepower in addition to depth at all positions on the field and speed on the bases.

“Allie and Brooklyn are nice additions to our pitching staff who bring offensive power to our lineup,” Kunkle said. Jordan and Anna also are powerful hitters that will impact our infield, while Emma and Rachel are fast, versatile and smart players that will immediately help offensively and defensively.

USI is coming off its first-ever national title and back-to-back regional championships. The Eagles open the 2019 season February 8 when they take on Young Harris College at the University of Alabama-Huntsville Charger Chillout.