Clarksville, TN – With the beginning of classes just a few weeks away, Austin Peay State University (APSU) softball coach Kassie Stanfill continues to round out her roster for the 2019-20 school year with the additions of pitcher Harley Mullins and utility player Alexandria (Alex) Grubbs.
Mullins, a native of Saltillo, MS, comes to Austin Peay State University after spending her freshman season at Northeast Mississippi Community College in 2019 and will have three years of eligibility left with the Governors.
Grubbs, a native of Bowling Green, KY, will be a true freshman, who prepped at Greenwood High School and is a former high school teammate of current APSU Govs catcher Katlyn Smith.
As a freshman at Northeast Mississippi, Mullins posted a 16-8 overall record, including five shutouts, three saves, 153 strikeouts and a 2.84 ERA in 148 innings pitched, as the Tigers posted an overall record of 36-15 this past spring.
“We are extremely excited about Harley joining our program,” Stanfill said. “We are trying to fill a few voids from the seniors we graduated this past spring, so we knew the pitching position was one we needed to address, and I think Harley is going to be a perfect fit for that.
“She has experience under her belt from her year in junior college and she’s excited to come in and get her innings here at Austin Peay State University and we think she’s going to come in and do well for us.”
Mullins was selected the National Junior College Athletic Association National Player of the Week, February 15th, by @Fastpitch News following a perfect game versus Southeastern Illinois College, as well as being named Mississippi Association of Community & Junior Colleges Pitcher of the Week twice in 2019.
Mullins also is a solid hitter, recording a .294 batting average as a freshman, including seven doubles, seven home runs and 32 runs driven in 126 at bats.
“I always love recruiting a pitcher that can hit,” Stanfill said. “I think it helps them with both sides of the game, so she will get her shot at the plate and I think she will do well.”
Grubbs, who has been on the varsity roster for the Greenwood High School Gators since the eighth grade, played in the infield and outfield, finishing second on the team with a .354 batting average her senior season – which included six doubles, a triple and six home runs.
She also drove in 21 runs while scoring a team-high 29 runs for the Gators, who finished the season with a 19-11 record.
“Alex is very versatile with a lot of speed,” Stanfill said. “I think we could plug her in at several different positions, but I can see her speed in the outfield, but I think with her athleticism and her positive outlook she could be a great fit anywhere on the field.
“But she just isn’t a speed player. Alex can also swing the bat well and is a hard-nosed kid that is going to go out there and do here best every day.”
