Bailey Wigness Announces Five GWU Softball Newcomers
August 01, 2023 | Softball
The Runnin' Bulldogs added four transfers and one true freshman
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb Head Softball Coach Bailey Wigness announced the signing of five newcomers on Tuesday, Aug. 1.
The Runnin' Bulldogs added five transfers in Elle Doolittle, Mackenzie Freeman, Jailyn Tineo, and Haley Yeary. GWU also welcomes true freshman Trina Van Dyke to the program.
"We are really excited about our new additions", says Wigness. "They will fit in nicely with a great group of returners and the freshmen we signed in November (Carmen McRae and Lilly Deaton). We have built this program the last two years from the ground up and every year we have made significant strides. We think that this group will help us take this program to new heights. They each bring something unique and special to our program. The future of Runnin' Bulldogs softball is promising."
Elle Doolittle – RHP – Macon, Ga. – Howard H.S. – Georgia State
Elle Doolittle comes to Gardner-Webb after a breakout season in 2023 at Georgia State, making a team-high 30 appearances for the Panthers. Doolittle recorded her first collegiate victory with five innings of scoreless relief in GSU's 5-0 shutout of Kansas City on February 12. Last season, the Macon native went 9-10 and pitched a team-high 124 innings with 60 strikeouts. For her career in Atlanta, Doolittle went 9-15 with two saves and one shutout over 171.2 innings of work, striking out 85 batters over three seasons. Doolittle also excelled in the classroom, earning 2023 CSC Academic All-District honors while also making the Dean's List in 2022 and 2021 at GSU. "We couldn't be more thrilled to be adding Elle to the program," says Wigness. "She is a tough and talented pitcher. I am excited to see what she brings not only in the circle, but also as another mentor to our young pitching staff."
Mackenzie Freeman – 1B – Abbeville, S.C. – Dixie H.S. – USC Beaufort
Mackenzie Freeman reunites with coach Wigness at Gardner-Webb after a stellar four-year career at NAIA USC Beaufort. Freeman batted .285 for her career with the Sand Sharks, finishing with 111 hits, scoring 44 runs, and finished with 69 RBIs. The Abbeville native also sent 12 balls over the fence and had a slugging percentage of .436. Her best season in the Lowcountry came in 2022, when she hit .320 with 47 hits, scoring 19 runs and had 10 doubles. "Mack is a competitor and a worker," says Wigness. "From our time together at USCB, I can't remember a day when she didn't show up early for extra reps. She will bring extra pop to our offense, and we are excited to see how much more she can grow this season."
Jailyn Tineo – C/UTL – Waxhaw, N.C. – Marvin Ridge H.S. – NC A&T - Gaston College
Jailyn Tineo makes her way from just down the road at JUCO Gaston College after helping lead the Rhinos to their first ever NJCAA World Series. The Waxhaw, N.C. native played in just six games before her season was cut short due to injury, but was effective, recording six hits, five RBI and scoring three runs. Prior to her time in Gaston County, Tineo played one season at NC A&T, batting .266 with 25 hits, 22 RBIs and two home runs. "Jailyn is a great addition to our program, she brings a lot of talent on both sides of the ball," says Wigness. "She is a true student of the game, and we are so excited she has chosen Gardner-Webb as her home."
Trina Van Dyke – UTL – Wake Forest, N.C. – Heritage H.S.
Coming to Gardner-Webb as a true freshman, Trina Van Dyke arrives in Boiling Springs after a successful four-year varsity career at Heritage High School in Wake Forest, N.C. Van Dyke batted .397 with 69 hits, 60 runs scored and 59 RBIs over her varsity career, while also recording 16 doubles. In her final two seasons with Heritage, Van Dyke batted .432 with 46 runs, 50 RBIs, and 54 hits. "We are lucky to be getting a player like Trina," says Wigness. "She is explosive on offense and versatile on defense. She fits the mold on what we are creating here at Gardner-Webb, and I think the fans are going to love watching her play."
Haley Yeary – OF – Port Orange, Fla. – Spruce Creek H.S. – Stetson
Haley Yeary rounds out the new signee class for Gardner-Webb, coming to the Runnin' Bulldogs from Stetson University. While Yeary did not see an at-bat last season for the Hatters, she was affective as a pinch-runner, scoring six runs in her eight appearances on the diamond. In high school at Spruce Creek in Port Orange, Fla., Yeary batted .436 in her varsity career with 65 hits, 48 runs, and 27 RBIs. She also found her way on base at a high clip, finishing with an on-base percentage of .494. "Haley is a fun player to watch," says Wigness. "She will add a lot of speed to our lineup. She is a blue-collar athlete, exactly the type of player we want to set the standard here at Gardner-Webb."
The Runnin' Bulldogs softball team looks to make strides in their third season under coach Wigness. To support the Gardner-Webb softball team, fans can join the Bulldog Club at gwusports.com. Fans can also follow the GWU softball action on social media on Twitter at @GWUSoftball or on Instagram at @gwusoftball.
The Runnin' Bulldogs added five transfers in Elle Doolittle, Mackenzie Freeman, Jailyn Tineo, and Haley Yeary. GWU also welcomes true freshman Trina Van Dyke to the program.
"We are really excited about our new additions", says Wigness. "They will fit in nicely with a great group of returners and the freshmen we signed in November (Carmen McRae and Lilly Deaton). We have built this program the last two years from the ground up and every year we have made significant strides. We think that this group will help us take this program to new heights. They each bring something unique and special to our program. The future of Runnin' Bulldogs softball is promising."
Elle Doolittle – RHP – Macon, Ga. – Howard H.S. – Georgia State
Elle Doolittle comes to Gardner-Webb after a breakout season in 2023 at Georgia State, making a team-high 30 appearances for the Panthers. Doolittle recorded her first collegiate victory with five innings of scoreless relief in GSU's 5-0 shutout of Kansas City on February 12. Last season, the Macon native went 9-10 and pitched a team-high 124 innings with 60 strikeouts. For her career in Atlanta, Doolittle went 9-15 with two saves and one shutout over 171.2 innings of work, striking out 85 batters over three seasons. Doolittle also excelled in the classroom, earning 2023 CSC Academic All-District honors while also making the Dean's List in 2022 and 2021 at GSU. "We couldn't be more thrilled to be adding Elle to the program," says Wigness. "She is a tough and talented pitcher. I am excited to see what she brings not only in the circle, but also as another mentor to our young pitching staff."
Mackenzie Freeman – 1B – Abbeville, S.C. – Dixie H.S. – USC Beaufort
Mackenzie Freeman reunites with coach Wigness at Gardner-Webb after a stellar four-year career at NAIA USC Beaufort. Freeman batted .285 for her career with the Sand Sharks, finishing with 111 hits, scoring 44 runs, and finished with 69 RBIs. The Abbeville native also sent 12 balls over the fence and had a slugging percentage of .436. Her best season in the Lowcountry came in 2022, when she hit .320 with 47 hits, scoring 19 runs and had 10 doubles. "Mack is a competitor and a worker," says Wigness. "From our time together at USCB, I can't remember a day when she didn't show up early for extra reps. She will bring extra pop to our offense, and we are excited to see how much more she can grow this season."
Jailyn Tineo – C/UTL – Waxhaw, N.C. – Marvin Ridge H.S. – NC A&T - Gaston College
Jailyn Tineo makes her way from just down the road at JUCO Gaston College after helping lead the Rhinos to their first ever NJCAA World Series. The Waxhaw, N.C. native played in just six games before her season was cut short due to injury, but was effective, recording six hits, five RBI and scoring three runs. Prior to her time in Gaston County, Tineo played one season at NC A&T, batting .266 with 25 hits, 22 RBIs and two home runs. "Jailyn is a great addition to our program, she brings a lot of talent on both sides of the ball," says Wigness. "She is a true student of the game, and we are so excited she has chosen Gardner-Webb as her home."
Trina Van Dyke – UTL – Wake Forest, N.C. – Heritage H.S.
Coming to Gardner-Webb as a true freshman, Trina Van Dyke arrives in Boiling Springs after a successful four-year varsity career at Heritage High School in Wake Forest, N.C. Van Dyke batted .397 with 69 hits, 60 runs scored and 59 RBIs over her varsity career, while also recording 16 doubles. In her final two seasons with Heritage, Van Dyke batted .432 with 46 runs, 50 RBIs, and 54 hits. "We are lucky to be getting a player like Trina," says Wigness. "She is explosive on offense and versatile on defense. She fits the mold on what we are creating here at Gardner-Webb, and I think the fans are going to love watching her play."
Haley Yeary – OF – Port Orange, Fla. – Spruce Creek H.S. – Stetson
Haley Yeary rounds out the new signee class for Gardner-Webb, coming to the Runnin' Bulldogs from Stetson University. While Yeary did not see an at-bat last season for the Hatters, she was affective as a pinch-runner, scoring six runs in her eight appearances on the diamond. In high school at Spruce Creek in Port Orange, Fla., Yeary batted .436 in her varsity career with 65 hits, 48 runs, and 27 RBIs. She also found her way on base at a high clip, finishing with an on-base percentage of .494. "Haley is a fun player to watch," says Wigness. "She will add a lot of speed to our lineup. She is a blue-collar athlete, exactly the type of player we want to set the standard here at Gardner-Webb."
The Runnin' Bulldogs softball team looks to make strides in their third season under coach Wigness. To support the Gardner-Webb softball team, fans can join the Bulldog Club at gwusports.com. Fans can also follow the GWU softball action on social media on Twitter at @GWUSoftball or on Instagram at @gwusoftball.
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