Softball Adds A Pair To 2017-18 Roster

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Head coach Natalie Poole and the University of Memphis softball team announces the additions of transfer student-athletes Ashley Threatt and Baylee Smith to the 2017-18 roster. Threatt and Smith join five signees that Memphis added earlier this season.

"We would like to welcome Baylee and Ashley to the Tiger family," said Poole. "We are excited to have these two athletes join the other five we signed in the fall. This entire class of athletes is going to be impactful right away to our team."

Ashley Threatt
5-11 | Utility
Big Rock, Tenn. | Stewart County High School | Columbia State CC

Threatt will join the Tigers after competing at Columbia State Community College in Clifton, Tenn. for the past two seasons. While at CSCC, Threatt played a variety of positions including first base, third base, and catcher. After helping lead her team to a 43-11 record in 2016, Threatt was named an All-Conference selection.

With a current batting average of .491, Threatt is well on her way to surpassing her successes in 2016. She leads her team in batting average, hits with 55, home runs with 17, RBI with 38 and on base percentage with a mark of .587.

In the victory over Jackson State CC on March 10, 2017, Threatt hit three home runs and drove in six RBI to lead Columbia State. Overall this season, CSCC has a record of 25-15.

In high school, Threatt was involved with HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) and was the BETA Club President. She was a three-time All-District selection at Stewart County High School and finished her senior season with a .330 batting average with six home runs, 28 RBI and 29 drawn walks.

Coach Poole on Ashley Threatt
Ashley will bring significant power to our team from an offensive stand point, and she is a great defender. She has experienced quite a bit of success at the JUCO level and should come in playing mature and confident. She is an excellent student in the classroom and I see her fitting right in with the type of players we have here already.

Baylee Smith
5-6 | Shortstop
Henderson, Tenn. | Chester County High School

Smith joins the Tiger program after competing at Chester County High School in Henderson, Tenn. the last four years. A TSWA All-State selection, Smith helped lead her team to a District Championship in 2016.

That District Championship in 2016 pushed Chester County to a sixth-place finish in state in Division AA. Smith finished the season with a .575 batting average, 12 doubles, and five triples. She also will bring speed to the Tiger lineup after stealing 26 bases in 2016.

Smith also has a significant amount of club experience after playing for Impact Fast Pitch from 2010-13 and the Lady Jaxx 99 team from 2013-2017.

Coach Poole on Baylee Smith
Baylee has some of the nicest hands I have seen in my career. She defends aggressively and has a great arm. We really like how she plays the game offensively and defensively. Baylee likes to play the game with intensity and we really like that about her. We are excited she is now a Tiger.

"I am excited that Baylee and Ashley get to represent their home state here at the University of Memphis," added Poole. "They both will bring excellent athleticism, work ethic, integrity, and commitment, which will fit in with the standards of our program."

University of Memphis Athletics

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