Softball | 9/29/2023 9:16:00 AM

DENTON, TX (Sept. 29, 2023) - As the Pioneers prepare for the 2024 season, six new players join the Texas Woman's softball team.

"I am extremely excited to announce these new players to our team," TWU Softball Head Coach Gay McNutt said. "They cover a wide range of positions and will help take our program to the next level."


From just around the corner, the freshman Elizabeth Smith joins TWU from Lewisville, Texas. The outfielder and third baseman was a member of the Glory Fastpitch softball team for two years from 2014 to 2016. Then, she played for American Freedom Sports for five years. Smith received the Academic All-District award in 2022 and 2023. 

Her love for softball drives her to coach young softball players as a way to give back to the sport she loves and the community. She was also involved with the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) and the student council organizations during high school. Smith will be majoring in English Education at TWU.

Next up is a pair of outfielders from Fort Worth, Texas, Vivicia Hernandez and Lauryn Davies.

Hernandez transferred from Northwestern State where she played for two seasons. The junior's career is full of accomplishments -from Newcomer of the Year following her freshman season in high school to being named the MVP and co-Defensive Player of the Year and earning First-Team All-District honors as a senior. 

In 2022, she was named to the Southland Conference Commissioner's Spring Honor Roll and an NFCA All-American Scholar-Athlete. 

Davies played her freshman and sophomore years at University of Arkansas at Monticello and North Central Texas College respectively. Prior to that, the junior started playing for Texas Fusion Fastpitch in 2018 while attending Timber Creek High School. 

She was also a member of the high school team that became the 2021 Keller ISD undefeated champions. Davies also received the Defensive Player of the Year award, the Keller ISD Hall of Fame All-State Athlete award and the Texas Woman's Coaches Association award in 2021.

Kyleigh Clements, another transfer student from Tyler Junior College, grew up less than two hours away from Denton and attended Whitewright High School. The junior shortstop played for Texas Glory Gold from 2018 to 2020 and was a member of Freedom National in 2021

Clements received the NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete award and the Academic All-American during her time in Tyler. She was also named 2st Team All-District Infield in 2018, 2019 and 2021, district Co-Offensive MVP in 2021 and received two Golden Gloves in 2019 and 2020. 

She battled a shoulder injury which resulted in surgery right out of high school, almost ending her softball career, but she bounced back to continue playing in college, following in her mom's footsteps who played softball for Southeastern State University. 

Another outfield player will be joining the Pioneers this year. Evan Fuller, a sophomore from Harker Heights, has been playing softball for nine years. Her most recent travel team before attending college was Impact Gold Rodriguez, where she played since 2019. 

She will be majoring in English, and she is also part of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes club. 



Jaycie Hall marks the last addition for the Pioneers. The pitcher from Paris, Texas attended North Lamar High School while also playing for Texas Glory. Hall is a transfer student from Paris Junior College where she had been enrolled since Fall2021. 

The junior also has a long decorated career. During 2022, an impressive year for Hall, she was named First Team All-Conference pitcher, NFCA Second Team All-Region, NJCAA Third Team All-Academic team. She also received the NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete award and the PJC Softball Vernon Carter Cup MVP in 2022 and 2023. 

Hall will be majoring in Kinesiology at TWU. She is also very involved in volunteering and giving back to the community. She has volunteered in homeless shelters, community cleanups, youth softball camps, among others. 

We are excited to welcome all six players to Denton, Texas. Go Pioneers! 

- Pioneers -