Five Join Softball For 2017

Head coach Kara Amundson is pleased to announce that five outstanding student-athletes have chosen to further their academic and softball careers at Murray State. Ellison Barrett of Florence, Alabama, Kristen Bialek of Downers Grove, Illinois, Jenny Homann of Freeburg, Illinois, Lexi Jones of Eldersburg, Maryland and Kaylee Ranburger of Owensboro, Kentucky will all enroll at MSU next fall and take the field for the Racers in the spring of 2017.

"I really couldn't be more excited about this signing class. We have a great balance of players coming in that bring both offensive and defensive tools. They also bring the ability to make impacts on the field right away. They are all incredible young women from great families and we are excited to officially welcome them to our Racer Family."

Ellison Barrett is 5-5 pitcher from Florence High School in Florence, Alabama. She has played for the Falcons for three season and in 2015 helped lead them to a 26-7-1 record and an appearance in the area tournament

In 2015, Barrett pitched 152.1 innings going 20-7-1 with a 1.56 ERA and 227 strikeouts. For her efforts she earned 6A All-State honorable mention honors from the Alabama Sportswriter Association and was named as the 4A-6A Softball Pitcher of the Year by the Times Daily.

Amundson on Barrett: "Ellison has continued to grow and get better every time I have seen her throw. She has tremendous command of her pitches and is able to spin the ball really well. Ellison has also worked hard to become a hitter who is an incredibly tough out. I am really excited to see what she is capable of at the next level."

Kristen Bialek is a 5-0 utility player from Downers Grove, Illinois and Downers Grove South High School. In three years with the Mustangs, she has helped lead them to a sectional final in 2014 and two super sectionals in 2013 and 2015. She has played four years for Downers Grove and has been in a starter in each of those seasons.

In 2015, Bialek scored 75 runs which went down as the seventh highest total in Illinois High School Association softball history. She also holds the Downers Grove South record for single-season stolen bases, swiping 33 in both the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

Amundson on Bialek: "Kristen is another slapper with a ton of speed. She has done a tremendous job in perfecting her craft and has incredible bat control. Her ability to play multiple positions makes her an asset in a variety of situations."

Jenny Homann is a 5-7 utility player from Freeburg, Illinois and Freeburg Community High School. She is a two-time All-Cahokia Conference selection at two different positions, earning the honor at the designated hitter spot in 2014 and for infield in 2015.

Homann has started for Freeburg since she was a freshman and also was named as an All-Area selection in 2015. She posted the second-highest batting average in conference play last season at .576 and the fifth-highest overall average in the St. Louis metroeast area at an even .500 including two home runs and 30 RBIs.

Amundson on Homann: "Jenny is the true utility player of this class. She can play infield, outfield, and catch and she plays each position very well. Additionally, she will bring a good amount of versatility to our lineup offensively with her ability to drive in runs and hit for power."

Lexi Jones is a 5-7 infielder from Eldersburg, Maryland and Liberty High School. She has been a key player for the Lions by earning All-County and All-Conference honors in each of her three seasons. In 2013, she was named to the second team on each list, but was bumped up to the first team on each list in both 2014 and 2015.

The 2015 season was one for the record books for Liberty as they turned in a perfect 18-0 record in county play and finished the season at 20-3. Jones turned in a .623 average over the 23 game season to go along with a .640 on-base percentage and an astronomical 1.272 slugging percentage. She finished the season with 48 hits, 37 runs, 12 doubles, seven triple, eight home runs and 44 RBIs.

Amundson on Jones: "Lexi is our first Maryland recruit and we are excited to add her. She is a great kid with a big bat who hits for a ton of power and we are excited to continue to see her develop as power and contact hitter. Defensively, she plays both corners well and has a good knowledge of the game."

Kaylee Ranburger is a 5-6 outfielder from Owensboro, Kentucky and Daviess County High School. She was an integral part of the Panthers' 2015 squad that won district and regional titles and finished the season with a state tournament appearance and a 27-13 record. The three sport athlete also excels in the classroom earning All-State academic honors in softball, track and basketball over the past two seasons.

In 2015, she earned all-district honors on the back of a .474 batting average with 13 stolen bases. She has steadily increased her batting average over her career batting .385 in 2013 and .390 in 2014.

Amundson on Ranburger: "Kaylee is a great part of this class that will add a tremendous amount of speed and grit. She is going to be an important part of our outfield bringing the ability to cover gaps and makes good reads off the bat. Her speed on the bases will make her tough to defend in any situation."

Murray State University Athletics

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