Kentucky softball just landed a big fish from the transfer portal, reeling in former Oregon State hurler Sarah Haendiges. The California native, who helped pitch the Beavers to the Women’s College World Series in 2022, will suit up for the Wildcats in 2025.
Haendiges brings some serious heat to Lexington. This past season, she was a workhorse for the Beavers, tossing over 100 innings and notching eight wins. With 65 strikeouts and a respectable 3.78 ERA, she’s no slouch in the circle.
“We’ve hit a home run with Sarah,” UK head coach Rachel Lawson told the Courier Journal. “She’s got that big-game experience from Oklahoma City, and we’re banking on her to help get us back there.”
The junior southpaw showed her mettle in the tough PAC-12, kickstarting Oregon State’s conference campaign with back-to-back wins against Arizona State. She even flashed some leather, finishing the season error-free in 26 chances.
But it was Haendiges’ freshman year that really turned heads. She lit up the PAC-12 with a sparkling 1.72 ERA, good for fourth in the conference. Her 13-7 record and 133 strikeouts were key in the Beavers’ World Series run, earning her All-PAC-12 Second Team and All-Freshman honors.
With Haendiges set to don the blue and white, Wildcat fans have reason to dream big. If she can bring that same magic to Lexington, UK might just find itself dancing in Oklahoma City once again.
