MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama softball head coach Becky Clark announced the addition of players to the roster. Junior college pitchers Allie Hughen (Vista, Calif.) and Kelsie Rivers (Tallahassee, Fla.), along with freshman outfielder Mackenzie Brasher (Orange Beach, Ala.) have joined the program this fall and will immediately be eligible for play this fall.

"Our goal this summer was to find players with compete mentalities who would also be great teammates and bring a tremendous work ethic," Clark said of the group. "All three of these additions fit that mold and add the depth we were looking for coming into the fall. I look for all three of them to make an immediate impact."

Allie Hughen
5-8 | R-R | Junior |Pitcher/Infield
Vista, Calif. | Palomar College | Rancho Buena Vista HS

Hughen a right-handed pitcher, lettered the past two seasons at Palomar College in San Marcos, Calif., before transferring to South Alabama, and starred both as a position player and in the circle during her time with the Comets. Hughen earned California Community College Athletic Association first-team all-conference, all-tournament and all-state honors, both as a sophomore and as a freshman, while helping Palomar to back-to-back championship game appearances.

"The thing that stood out to me about Allie was her athleticism and competitiveness" Clark said. "She wants the ball in her hand when it matters and that is such a huge attribute. Plus, when she wasn't on the mound she was playing short stop and did a great job at both places. She has already put up some really strong numbers but still has more room for growth so we are excited to see what is possible for her once she gets in our system."

As a sophomore, the Vista, Calif., native helped guide Palomar to a 41-7 overall record and a 15-1 mark in conference marking the seventh straight Pacific Coast Athletic Conference championship for the Comets. She recorded seven hits, scored two runs and drove in four, while also picking up a pair of wins in the circle during the state tournament.

Last season, Hughen made 28 appearances in the circle, starting 17 of those outings, and recorded a 15-2 record, three saves and a 0.92 earned run average in her 98.2 innings of work, while striking out 131 batters. She also led the team in complete games (9) and her four shutouts were tied for most on the club, and allowed just 13 earned runs during the spring. Hughen averaged 9.29 strikeouts per game during the season which ranked as third-best in the conference, while raising that average to 12.41 in league play. Her 0.92 earned run average was second in the CCCAA and lowered that to 0.32 against league foes. Opponents batted just .141 against the righty. She registered a five-inning no-hitter vs. San Diego Mesa in late February and also recorded a seven-inning, no-hitter in a 4-0 victory versus Canyons where she struck out a season-high 12 and allowed just two base runners.

At the plate, she batted 365 as she was 35-for-96, scored 19 runs and drove in 21. Hughen was a perfect 6-for-6 in her stolen base opportunities and had 10 multi-hit game.

Kelsie Rivers
5-9 | Sophomore | R-R | Pitcher
Tallahassee, Fla. | College of Central Florida | Lincoln HS

Rivers – who will have three years of eligibility – comes to South Alabama after pitching last season at the College of Central Florida in Ocala, Fla., where she helped lead the Lady Patriots to a 58-11 overall record, a 23-1 mark in the Mid-Florida Conference for their fourth league title in the last five years. CF finished the season ranked third nationally in the final NJCAA poll and captured the program's first-ever Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA) State Softball Championship after defeating NJCAA No. 1 Florida Southwestern State College 6-3 and snapping a 26-game win streak by the defending champs. She tossed a complete game, allowing just three runs on nine hits and struck out six in the win in the championship game.

"Kelsie has already had a lot of success at the college level and is another pitcher with a really high ceiling," Clark said. "We feel like she will only continue to grow once she is in our bullpen and weight room on a daily basis. Her work ethic, competitiveness, and will to succeed are intangibles that are going to make her a great addition to our pitching staff."

The 5-9 righty earned multiple postseason accolades as she was a first-team FCSAA all-state selection, a first-team all-Mid-Florida Conference selection and was named the Pitcher of the Year in the league. Of her 37 appearances, 31 were starts in the circle where she finished with a 22-5 mark and a save posting a 2.94 earned run average. Rivers recorded 15 complete game efforts, including nine shutouts with eight of her shutouts came against league competition. She recorded 157 strikeouts in her 161.2 innings of work and ranked among the top 10 NJCAA leaders both nationally and in Region 8 in several pitching categories. Her 31 starts were tied for sixth most among Division I NJCAA pitchers, while she was tied for 14th nationally in wins and 27th in strikeouts. Rivers also ranked in top 10 in Region 8 in wins (fifth), strikeouts (ninth), innings pitched (10th) and complete games (T-10th).

Rivers recorded season-high 11 strikeouts in a two-hit, shutout victory over Florida State College in game two of a doubleheader and was named the FCSAA Region VIII Softball Pitcher of the Week on April 10 after recording leading Central Florida to a pair of victories and not allowing an earned run.

Mackenzie Brasher
5-6 | Freshman | L-R | Outfield
Orange Beach, Ala. | Gulf Shores HS

Brasher – one of eight incoming freshmen this fall – lettered six seasons in softball at Gulf Shores High School in Gulf Shores, Ala., where she batted .410 with a .464 on-base percentage over the course of her career according to MaxPreps.com. She was twice named to the AL.com Coastal Alabama all-region team and a two-time 6A all-state selection, while earning all-county honors on four occasions.

"Mackenzie is another competitive, gritty player who will add speed to our offense and depth to our outfield," Clark stated. "She is a heads up player who plays the game the right way and, as a local talent, is already incredibly familiar with our program and system. I am confident she will add another element to our offense with her ability to get on base and create opportunities for the rest of the lineup."

The 5-6 outfielder hit .455 and stole 49 bases in 51 attempts as a senior with the Dolphins, while scoring 69 runs and earning honorable mention 6A all-state honors from the Alabama Sports Writers Association. Brasher was also named to AL.com's Coastal Alabama all-region first-team at the conclusion of her final prep season.

As a junior, Brasher batted .478 and had a .621 slugging percentage while picking up second-team 6A all-state honors from the ASWA. She was also an honorable mention selection to the AL.com Coastal Alabama all-region team. Of her 77 hits, 18 went for extra bases as she recorded 14 doubles, three triples and a home run. She also scored 74 runs for the Dolphins and drove in 24, while stealing 41 bases

Brasher, who was an honor roll student in the classroom, also lettered four years in basketball and two years in track at Gulf Shores where she was a three-time all-county selection on the hardwood and set both the high and long jump records for the Dolphins.

The trio joins Breanna Barlow (Excel, Ala.), Jenna Hardy (Whitehouse, Ohio), Lexi Hutchins (Stonewall, La.), Emma Kropp (Fairhope, Ala.), Cam McLemore (Saraland, Ala.), Shelby Sloan (Baker, Fla.) and Kassidy Wilcox (Brantley, Ala.) who were members of last fall's signee class and have already joined the program.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/WeAreSout_JAGS. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

Join the Bullpen Club, the softball specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund.  Members have access to purchase parking passes and receive Jaguar Softball gear.  All donations to the Bullpen Club go directly to support the South Alabama softball program.  For more information on how you can join visit:  jaguarathleticfund.com/bullpenclub.

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