Taylor
CLEMSON – On Tuesday, Clemson University head coach John Rittman announced the addition of five transfers to the university’s inaugural softball program. Of the five transferring signees, two played softball at local high schools.
Bailey Taylor, a Richard Winn standout, transfers from Troy University after an extraordinary season. Taylor finished the 2019 season with a batting average of .310 and a 1.000 fielding percentage. She recorded eight doubles, six home runs and 40 RBIs in her sophomore season at Troy. Taylor enters Clemson as a junior.
Taylor joins Blythewood High School’s Ansley Gilstrap, Clemson’s first transfer who joined the program officially last summer.
Gilstrap
Gilstrap, a five-year starter as a Bengal, transferred to Clemson after a standout career at USC Upstate. As a Bengal, Gilstrap had a career batting average of .467 with 140 RBIs, 12 home runs, 22 triples, 26 doubles and 91 stolen bases. She led the Spartans in 2019 in stolen bases (42), stolen base attempts (44), runs scored (40) and assists (89). Gilstrap enters the 2020 season as a redshirt senior.
“We are thrilled to welcome Bailey [Taylor] to our Clemson family,” Rittman said. “[She] will be a great addition to our program and will provide our young team with much needed Division-I playing experience and leadership. This talented group of athletes combined with last year’s Division-I Transfer, Ansley [Gilstrap], and our 2018 and 2019 signing classes will represent the Tigers in 2020, our inaugural season.”