Kentucky softball transfer class helps revamp roster

The Kentucky roster will have a different feel to it come 2025. The Wildcats will be without former stars Erin Coffel and Stephanie Schoonover. Kentucky also graduated starters Rylea Smith and Grace Lorsung, while losing depth to the transfer portal too. Rachel Lawson and her staff needed a Kentucky softball transfer class to pair her youthful roster and six-player signing class. A pair of former Beavers in Sarah Haendiges and Madyson Clark with former Buckeye McKenzie Bump spending her final season in Lexington.

Sarah Haendiges

Schoonover threw really well over the past two years. She was also a true workhorse, throwing 172 innings last season. Jaden Vickers threw over 75 innings, which must also be filled. Alexia Lacatena returns but she’d need to surpass her career-high of 94 innings to contribute to vacated time in the circle. Rising sophomore Sydney Langdon will be expected to carry a bigger load. And while incoming freshman Carson Fall will have high expectations, Kentucky needed another veteran arm. That’s where Haendgies comes in.

The right-handed senior joins the Wildcats having thrown 305.2 innings the past three years. Haendiges had her best season as a freshman, complementing Mariah Mazon as the Beavers made it to the Women’s College World Series in 2022. Haendiges’ sophomore season was cut short due to injury and she struggled at times last season. However, she can be a very effective piece of a staff and that appears to be the role she’ll consume as a Wildcat.

She had a 2.16 ERA with 13 wins, three saves and a .223 batting average against in 2022. Most of those numbers rose in 2024 as she ended the year with a 3.78 ERA, .303 B/AVG and allowed 22 more extra-bases than she did compared to 2022.

How did Haendiges win in 2022 and what was different in 2024? Based on the numbers from Synergy Sports, the Upland, Calif. native had a similar ground ball rate between the two seasons. She used a drop ball more in 2025 but she allowed a .207 batting average. That didn’t seem to be the case. She had nearly identical results with her curveball, her most thrown pitch.

The underlying issue appeared to be her changeup. Haendiges uses her changeup as her out pitch, taking about 10-15 mph off of it from her other pitches. In 2022, opposing hitters had a .131 average with two extra-base hits against her change. Teams proceeded to hit .354 versus the pitch and 12 extra-base hits. She allowed eight home runs, more than she allowed in total in 2022, and four came with two strikes. It’s still a good pitch (as seen below), but it has to be better in 2025 for her to be the quality arm she was as a freshman.

Madyson Clark

Kentucky needed Clark’s versatility. She primarily played second base as a freshman at Oregon State due to Kiki Escobar’s injury. Last season, she spent time at third base, shortstop and outfield but primarily started as the Beavers’ designated player.

There are plenty of open spots in Kentucky’s lineup. Clark is best suited for designated player or the outfield based on the roster construction, . Peyton Plotts started at right field and is the lone returner from the outfield. Delani Sullivan is the only other true outfielder listed on the roster. At least one utility-type player will be starting in the outfield next season.

Clark improved her batting average from .206 to .271 while adding four home runs over 96 at-bats. She hit curveballs and changeups well, producing a .400 average versus those pitches. In contrast, struggled versus rise and drop ball, only hitting .156. The strengths and weaknesses for Clark are pretty clear.

McKenzie Bump

Bump should slide into third base where she played at Ohio State. She is coming off a career year in Columbus. Bump hit 16 extra-base hits in her first three seasons as a Buckeye. Last season, she hit six doubles and five home runs with a career-high .336 average.

Bump appeared to change her stance a bit this last season. In 2023 (left) she was more compacted and feet aligned as she stepped in the box. Her lead foot opened more and she stood taller in 2024 (right).

The left-handed utility vastly improved against curveballs last season. Bump has seen that pitch the most in her career, making it vital to hit it at a decent rate. She had a combined .290 average in 2022 and 2023 versus curveballs with seven strikeouts. Her average jumped to .351 with a 1.057 OPS against curveballs. Those little tweaks should carry over to Kentucky.

The Kentucky softball transfer class fills holes on a new roster that will rely on new faces next season

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