Kentucky softball adds three new transfers to 2025 roster
Kentucky Softball head coach Rachel Lawson has been hitting the transfer portal this off-season, adding a trio new recruits to their roster for next spring: Madyson Clark, McKenzie Bump, and Sarah Haendiges.
Madyson Clark
Madyson Clark announced that she will be transferring to Kentucky with two years of eligibility remaining after spending her first two at the University of Oregon State.
Last season for the Beavers, Clark hit .271 with four home runs, 12 runs batted in, and 42 bases total. She tallied a .774 OPS and started for the Beavers in 34 out of 36 games. She also posted 26 hits, 19 runs, eight extra-base hits, two stolen bases, and seven walks.
“Madyson Clark is someone who shines the brightest when the moments are the most important,” Coach Lawson said. “When we were evaluating her, one of the things that stuck out was how her biggest hits came in the clutch spots against elite pitchers when game-changing plays were on the line. She will be an important bat in the order that will produce in the big moments.”
McKenzie Bump
McKenzie Bump will be transferring to Kentucky for the 2025 season with immediate eligibility after a four-year career at Ohio State.
In her senior season for the Buckeyes, Bump hit .313 in 23 Big Ten games with three home runs, 13 RBI, and a .410 on-base percentage. She had 12 total multi-hit games, including back-to-back three-hit games in wins over Wisconsin and Penn State.
“McKenzie Bump will be a big addition to our offense as she has experience at the top of the order and brings both elite power and speed to the team,” Lawson said. “She has a contagious competitive spirit that will resonate in our clubhouse and is incredibly driven to compete at the highest level in the SEC.”
Sarah Haendiges
Finally, Sarah Haendiges joins Clark as an incoming Oregon State transfer and will have one year of eligibility remaining.
Playing for Oregon State from 2002-24, Haendiges was a member of the Beavers’ 2022 Women’s College World Series run. The California native threw over 100 innings in 2024 for Oregon State, recording eight wins across 16 starts (30 total appearances). She struck out 65 batters on the season with an ERA of 3.78.
“We are thrilled to welcome a pitcher of Sarah Haendiges’ caliber into our battery at Kentucky,” Lawson said. “She is someone that has pitched on the biggest stage at the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City and a player we have identified that fit our culture and committed to the mindset of returning Kentucky to OKC.”
As a freshman, Haendiges was named All-PAC-12 Second Team and PAC-12 All-Freshman Team with a 1.72 ERA before recording a career-best 133 strikeouts in 2022 en route to the WCWS.
Kentucky finished the 2024 season with a 31-24 overall record (8-16 SEC), advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the 15th straight season.
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