Head Coach Chris Hawkins announces new signees to the 2026 Softball Signing Class
6/2/2026 2:20:00 PM | Softball
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Wrapping up another historic season, Head Coach Chris Hawkins has announced additional signees to the 2026 Signing Class as the Spartans look to reload ahead of the 2027 season. The program is coming off a three-peat as Big South Conference Champions while winning their first regional game since May 19, 2017, and making it to the Regional Final for the first time in program history.
Jessica Smith|RHP| Penrith, Australia| Arizona Western
Coming off a successful year at Arizona Western after being named the ACCAC Pitcher of the Year, Smith makes her way to the Palmetto State. Smith finished with a 20-5 record while pitching 161.0 Innings pitched and 21 complete games. Smith added 164 strikeouts with a 1.35 ERA. Smith helped the Matadors reach the NJCAA World Series, displaying that she can flourish in the big moments, including striking out five batters in a complete game against Volunteer State Community College in an elimination game. In the previous season, Smith led the country in strikeouts with 308 and was a First Team All-American in 2025. Looking to elevate on the Division I level, Smith joins Upstate Softball where she looks to bring her winning attitude to a historic program who also thrives on a winning culture.
Jayda Lorigan|RHP| Sydney, Australia| Odessa College
The connection between Upstate and Odessa College continues as Jayda Lorigan makes her way to the program following a historic year of the Wranglers making it to the NJCAA D1 World Series, WJCAC Champions for the fifth consecutive year and going 24-0 in conference play. Lorigan was a First Team All-Conference pitcher who was also named WJCAC Pitcher of the Year. During the 2026 season, Lorigan appeared in 46 games while starting in 32 adding a 28-6 record in the circle while striking out 239 batters with a 1.73 ERA. During her two seasons at Odessa College, she had a career ERA of 1.79, won 45 games, started in 51 and struck out 325 batters. Lorigan makes the transition with a familiar teammate from Odessa as Mackenzei Bernal-Mahagan and Lorigan were teammates on the Wranglers during the 2024-25 year. Lorigan looks to continue her collegiate success with the recipe of winning with a historic program like Upstate Softball.
Ava Unser|RHP| Moose Jaw, SK| Daytona State
Ava Unser makes her way from Dayton State College to Upstate Softball as another pitcher looking to bolster the depth ahead of the 2027 season. During the 2025-26 season, Unser appeared in 32 games and started in 28 with a 17-9 record and struck out 141 batters. Through her two seasons with Daytona, Unser finished with a 2.57 Career ERA, 34 wins, two saves, 300 Innings Pitched and 296 strikeouts. Unser impressed the staff with her great drop ball and look to make an immediate impact with the program through fall ball and the 2027 season with a program who has had the last three tournament MVPs come from the circle.
