Head coach Kara Amundson is pleased to announce that six outstanding student-athletes have chosen to further their academic and softball careers at Murray State. Lindsey Carroll of Paducah, Kentucky, Jordan Childress of Peachtree City, Georgia, Morgan Dodd of Pittsburg, Illinois, Hannah James of Nicholasville, Kentucky, Abby Shoulders of Paducah, Kentucky and Carly St. George of Vadnais Heights, Minnesota will all enroll at MSU next fall and take the field for the Racers in the spring of 2019.
“We are really excited about this 2018 class for the variety that they bring on the softball field,” said Amundson. “They are great young women from good families and we are excited to welcome them to Racer Nation.”
Lindsey Carroll is a 5-7 shortstop from Paducah, Kentucky and McCracken County High School. Carroll helped the Mustangs to back-to-back state title game appearances in 2015 and 2016, including a state championship in 2015.
Last season, she earned All-District, All-Region, Regional All-Tournament and All-Purchase Area honors. Carroll is the currently the Mustangs’ career leader in home runs with 20 and has a lifetime slugging percentage of .846.
Amundson on Carroll: “Lindsey brings a combination of speed and power to the field. She covers ground defensively and has a strong arm. Her knowledge of the game allows her to play multiple positions on the infield and play them all well. She also provides the ability to be both a contact and power hitter.”
Jordan Childress is a 5-4 infielder from Peachtree City, Georgia and Starr’s Mill High School. She is a two-time All-County selection and this fall earned 2017 All-State honors.
As a senior, Childress batted .470, while driving in 21 runs, belting out four home runs and posting a career-best .635 on-base percentage. Over the course of her four seasons with the Panthers, she drove in a total of 78 RBIs and never saw her on-base percentage dip below .525
Amundson on Childress: “Jordan is one of the most energetic players I have seen. She is constantly communicating and encouraging her teammates. She has worked incredibly hard to continue to develop her game and it shows. She has the ability to be both a contact and power hitter and I’m excited to see her growth over the next four years.
Morgan Dodd is a 5-3 middle infielder/outfielder from Pittsburg, Illinois and Marion High School. She is a three-time All-Conference honoree for the Wildcats and was named as team MVP her freshman year.
Dodd is also a three-time Illinois All-South team honoree and a two-time Southern Illinois Select game participant. In addition to her prowess in softball, she also a four-time letterwinner and three-time All-Conference recipient in volleyball.
Amundson on Dodd: “Mo is a true triple threat offensively in that she can hit for power, can soft slap and can bunt in any situation. Additionally, her speed is going to make her a threat anytime she gets on base. She can also play both infield and outfield, making her an incredibly versatile player.”
Hannah James is a 5-9 pitcher/infielder from Nicholasville, Kentucky and East Jessamine High School. She helped lead the Jaguars to back-to-back state tournament appearances in 2015 and 2016, before missing the 2017 season due to injury. As a sophomore, she was nominated for Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year thanks to a .554 average and 16 home runs as a batter and a 37-6 record as a pitcher to go with a 1.36 ERA and 402 strikeouts.
The rising senior twice earned All-District and All-Region honors as a freshman and sophomore. In addition, she was named second-team All-State in 2015 and was named to the first team in 2016, as well as earning MaxPreps Underclass All-American honors in each season as well.
Amundson on James: “I am really excited for what Hannah is going to be able to bring to the table in the circle for us during her four years as a Racer. She has incredible spin and the ability to mix pitches well. She has also worked hard to be an offensive threat and her power numbers are as good as they have ever been.”
Abby Shoulders is a 5-0 outfielder from Paducah, Kentucky and McCracken County High School. Over the past three years, she has helped take the Mustangs to three state tournaments, a runner-up finish in 2016 and a state championship in 2015.
Shoulders is now a two-time Paducah Sun All-Purchase area honoree, as well as a 2017 Kentucky Softball Coaches Association first-team Academic All-State selection and an East/West All-Star series selection. As a sophomore, Shoulders hit .368, scored 48 runs and drove in an additional 39. She continued to excel her junior year with a .370 average 42 runs and 30 RBIs.
Amundson on Shoulders: “Abby is the definition of grit. She works hard and takes pride in continuously making herself a better player. It’s been fun seeing her continue to grow on the softball field for the past few years and we are excited for her future. Her ability to play multiple positions is a huge asset.”
Carly St. George is a 5-9 catcher/infielder from Vadnais Heights, Minnesota and Mounds View High School. Heading into her senior year, she is a four-time letterwinner for the Mustangs and has been a starter since her eighth grade year.
She is now a three-time All-Conference honoree, being named to the first team in both 2015 and 2017. As junior, St, George added to her hardware being named to the All-Section team for the first time in her career.
Amundson on St. George: “I have seen Carly catch, play first base and right field and she does them all well. She is a great receiver behind the plate and creates solid relationships with the pitchers she works with. She is also a solid contact hitter who will add offensive consistency to our roster.”
