SPARTANBURG, S.C. – USC Upstate softball head coach Chris Hawkins announced the signing of five players on Thursday.
 
 
Alanna Deal
Deal makes her way to the Hub City from Whiteville, N.C., where she was a standout athlete at South Columbus High School. Deal was a three-sport athlete in high school playing volleyball, basketball and softball. During the 2019 season, she raked in the accolades after she led her conference in batting average (.709), homeruns (8), slugging percentage (1.294), RBI's (36) and stolen bases (25). For her performance on the field, Deal was named North Carolina East Region Player of the Year, The News Reporter Player of the Year, Softball Offensive Player of the Year, All State selection, All-County, and All-Conference. Deal was also a 2019 Softball Factory Preseason All-American. In 2018, her high school named her varsity softball MVP as a freshman and was an All-Conference selection. In 2017, she was named Female Athlete of the Year and earned All-Conference honors in both 2017 and 2016. Outside of softball, Deal took home All-Conference honors in volleyball (3 times), basketball (3 times), and cheerleading once. Deal, played travel ball for Team SC Gayle and in three season compiled a .481 batting average, 34 doubles, 15 triples, 26 homeruns, 125 RBI's and 193 runs scored.
 
When Deal was not on the field or court, she was a member of the Beta Club and National Honor Society. Deal was a scholar athlete in 2019 and took home Academic All-Conference honors in basketball, softball and volleyball from 2018-2020. In 2018, Deal became a member of the National Society of High School Scholars. In 2017, she took home a scholastic achievement in science and in 2016, Deal had the highest GPA in the school.   
 

Olivia Hall
Hall a product out of Boiling Springs, S.C. played four years for the Bulldogs at Boiling Springs High School. The Palmetto State native has been consistent over her prep career batting .350 or better during the high school season. In eighth grade, Hall was named best all-around and repeated during her freshman campaign. During her freshman season, Hall earned All-Region accolades and guided her team to a district championships and a spot in the Upper State playoffs. Hall was named best defensive player following her sophomore season. Hall has played travel ball for the Carolina Crush since 2012 and has batted over .375 throughout her career with the Crush. In 2018 Hall was named the Under Armor best All-Around Player. Off the field, Hal was a member of BETA club, Scholars club and the National Honors Society.
 
 
Mackenzie Hayes
Hayes comes to USC Upstate from Shelby, N.C., where she played both volleyball and softball at Crest High School. During her freshman campaign, Hayes batted .538 and recorded a slugging percentage of .737. During her sophomore season, she batted .524, with 8 homeruns, recorded a slugging percentage of 1.035 and had an ERA of 0.29. On the field, Hayes won the Softball Offensive Award in 2018, she was the Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2019 and earned All-State accolades in both 2018 and 2019. On the volleyball court she was the Offensive Player of the Year in 2017, the MVP in 2018 and the Player of the Year in 2019. Hayes is also a member of her high school Beta Club, National Honor Society and CTE Honor Society.
 
 
Hannah Houge
Houge is a transfer from Erskine College, where she was a standout pitcher for the Flying Fleet. During her time in Due West, S.C., she compiled a career ERA of 0.92, an OBA average of .153 and she struck out 194 batters in her career. While at Erskine, Houge was a member of the 2019 Conference Carolinas Championship team and the 2019 NCCAA National Championship team. Houge was named the 2019 NCCAA National Player of the Year, Conference Carolinas Pitcher of the Year, Second Team All-Region, All-Conference First Team, and Erskine Softball Defensive Player of the Year. In 2018, Houge was a second team All-Conference selection and was named most improved on the team. During her prep career at Chesnee High School, Houge was the 2A State Player of the Year in 2017, an All-State selection in 2016 &2017, the Region Player of the Year in 2017, and an All-Region in 2016 &2017. Outside of softball, Houge is a member of Chi Lamba Sigma, Erskine Entertainment Board and the Erskine Diversity Committee.  
 

Liza Simmerson
Simmerson played her prep career at Jesse Carson High School in Salisbury, N.C., where she was a three-sport athlete in softball, volleyball and basketball. Simmerson batted .443 in her career and posted an on-base percentage of .500. A two-time All-County and All-Conference selection, in 2019 she added an All-State accolade to her resume. Simmerson helped guide the Cougars to Conference Championship in 2018 and a semi-finals appearance in the 3A State Tournament. Simmerson is a three-time Scholar Athlete and she played travel ball for Team NC Horne/Helms.
 
For more information on the USC Upstate softball program log onto upstatespartans.com or follow the team on Twitter @UpstateSoftball.