EVANSVILLE, Ind.—University of Southern Indiana Softball announced that eight incoming freshmen have signed national letters of intent to compete for Head Coach Sue Kunkle‘s Screaming Eagles in 2022-23. That list includes pitcher/first baseman Kylie Eads (Indianapolis, Indiana), utility players Carlee Effinger (Evansville, Indiana) and Summer Eskridge (Scottsburg, Indiana), pitcher/first baseman Raegan Gibson (Louisville, Kentucky), third baseman/first baseman Julianna Hibbs(Henderson, Kentucky), outfielder Olivia Money (Fort Branch, Indiana), third baseman/first baseman Lavin Osborne (New Albany, Indiana) and outfielder Caroline Stapleton (Shirley, Indiana).

Kylie Eads comes to USI from Decatur Central High School in Indianapolis, where she has earned letters in softball and volleyball during her prep career. Eads has compiled a .461 batting average with 17 doubles, four triples, 15 home runs, and 71 RBI in her first two seasons at DCHS.

As a junior in 2021, she hit a whopping .470 with eight doubles, nine home runs, and 42 RBI. In the circle, Eads is 16-1 with a 1.57 ERA and 154 strikeouts. She was 7-0 with a 0.83 ERA as a freshman in 2019 before going 9-1 with a 2.01 ERA as a junior in 2021.

“Kylie brings speed and endless tools to ensure her a bright career and is a great addition to our pitching staff,” Kunkle said. “Her success with the long ball also adds a lot of power to our offensive lineup.”

Carlee Effinger is in her final year at Reitz High School (Evansville), where she has earned letters in basketball and softball.

An All-Metro and All-Southern Indiana Athletic Conference honoree as a junior in 2021, Effinger is hitting .333 with seven doubles, eight triples, nine home runs and 47 RBI during her prep career. She hit .361 with five doubles, five triples, five home runs and 26 RBI last spring after beginning her prep career with a .304 batting average, four home runs, two doubles and a triple as a freshman in 2019.

“Carlee is extremely athletic and will work in both the infield and outfield,” Kunkle said. “She has a strong arm which helps her tremendously on the left side of the infield as well as being a threat to base runners from the grass. She is another player that brings power to our lineup.”

Summer Eskridge is wrapping up her prep career at Austin High School in Austin, Indiana, where she has garnered letters in soccer and softball. An Academic All-State honoree on the pitch, Eskridge has collected All-Mid-Southern Conference honors in both soccer and softball during her time at AHS.

During her career at AHS, Eskridge has hit .410 with 10 doubles, three triples, 13 home runs, 34 RBI, 45 runs scored and 24 stolen bases. She hit .425 with 10 doubles, three triples, 11 home runs, 31 RBI, 37 runs scored, and 24 stolen bases as a junior in 2021.

“Summer is the true definition of utility player,” Kunkle stated, “She even pitches and catches, so we will see a lot of work out of her any many areas in our defense. Summer also brings speed and power to our offense.”

Raegan Gibson will join the Eagles following her career at Assumption High School in Louisville, Kentucky, where she has collected letters in basketball and softball while earning first-team Academic All-State laurels.

A member of AHS’s 2021 district championship team, Gibson earned KHSAA Class 3A second-team All-State honors as well as Region 7 All-Tournament accolades during her junior year. She posted a .400 batting average and four home runs at the plate and was 8-3 with 84 strikeouts in the circle in 2021. As a freshman in 2019, Gibson hit five home runs and drove in 20 RBI; and went 7-3 with 57 strikeouts to earn Freshman of the Year honors.

“Raegan brings a lot of power and speed to our pitching staff,” Kunkle said. “She was pretty certain USI was the place for her after a clinic in her earlier high school years and we felt the same way. She has developed into a tremendous pitcher and is driven for perfection.”

Juliana Hibbs is a two-time Academic All-State honoree from Henderson County High School in Henderson, Kentucky, where she has posted a .387 batting average, 16 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs and 63 RBI during her prep career.

As a junior in 2021, Hibbs hit .389 with seven home runs and 36 RBI, helping HCHS to district and region titles. She hit .383 with three home runs and 27 RBI as a freshman in 2819 and has posted big numbers in travel ball, where she competes for the Fusion Premier Marx 22/23 team.

“Julianna has great tools to work with,” Kunkle said. “She is driven and has a lot of passion for the game. She has a nice swing that will enhance our offensive lineup.”

Olivia Money is in her senior year at Gibson Southern High School in Fort Branch, Indiana, where she has earned letters in softball and volleyball during her prep career.

A member of sectional championship teams in 2019 and 2021, Money hit .422 with 12 doubles, a home run and 18 RBI to help GSHS as a freshman to help GSHS to a regional title. She hit .489 with six home runs and 38 RBI as a junior in 2021.

“Olivia is a solid outfielder that covers a lot of ground,” Kunkle said. “She’s been part of numerous winning programs, whether it be high school or travel, and we are excited to see what she can bring our offensive lineup. She has a powerful swing from the left side that we have liked since she was coming to our campus when she was in 10 and 12u ball.”

Lavin Osborne is finishing up her prep career at Floyd Central High School in Floyds Knobs, Indiana, where she has earned letters in softball and cheer during her prep career.

An honorable mention All-State honoree, Lavin has compiled a .391 batting average, nine home runs, seven doubles, two triples and 36 RBI during her career at FCHS. She hit .356 with nine home runs and 28 RBI as a junior in 2021 after hitting .459 with four doubles, a triple and eight RBI as a freshman in 2019.

“The one thing that attracted us to Lavin right away was her gritty and confident demeanor on the field,” Kunkle explained. “She is a scrappy hitter at the plate with power potential.”

Caroline Stapleton has earned letters in basketball and softball and already is the program’s career leader with 21 triples as she wraps up her senior year at Eastern Hancock High School in Charlottesville, Indiana).

A two-time All-Conference and All-County honoree, Stapleton has a career batting average of .534 after setting single-season records in triples, batting average and runs scored, leading EHHS to a pair of sectional championships along the way. Stapleton hit .575 with 11 triples, six doubles, 31 RBI, 34 runs scored, and 14 stolen bases as a freshman in 2019. She hit .500 with a home run, 10 triples, five doubles, 25 RBI, 54 runs scored, and 39 stolen bases as a junior in 2021.

“Caroline adds more wheels to our outfield,” Kunkle said. “She covers a lot of ground and isn’t afraid to dive for balls. Offensively, she is a scrappy lefty with speed.”

USI Softball begins the 2022 season on February 11 at the Charger Chillout in Albertville, Alabama.