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University of Houston Athletics
Softball Signs Transfers to 2023 Class
6/9/2023 3:10:00 PM | Softball
Head Coach Kristin Vesely adds transfers to her 2023 signing class
HOUSTON – University of Houston Softball Head Coach Kristin Vesely announced the signing of a group of transfers to her 2023-24 roster.
Tamya Waiters – P – UT Arlington
Waiters joins Houston following a year at UT-Arlington. She made 17 appearances in the circle, including four starts, earning a win and posting a complete game in 37.1 innings pitched.
Waiters was named the 2022 DFW All-Metroplex 5A Player of the Year, Texas All-State Softball Team Pitcher, Texas Girls Association Softball Legacy Team and earned a Dallas Morning News Athlete of the Week honorable mention twice.
Paris Lehman -- P – Nicholls
Lehman lands in H-Town after playing in one season at Nicholls, making a team-leading 37 appearances in the circle and 18 starts. She posted five wins, 52 strikeouts and two saves while tossing six complete games.
In her preps career, she helped Tupelo High School win the 6A Mississippi State title in 2017 and played club softball for Mississippi Bombers Gold.
Mandy Esman -- INF – Michigan State
After playing a season for the Spartans, Esman arrives in Houston having made 46 starts during her lone collegiate season. In 132 at-bats, she posted a .265 average while tallying 16 extra-base hits and 19 RBIs.
Esman was a NFCA High School All-American in 2021 and a NFCA All-North Region First Team honoree in both 2021 and 2022 during her four years at Gull Lake High School.
Jazmyn Rollin -- INF – Arizona State
Rollin comes to Houston after two years at Arizona State and three seasons at Mizzou. A career .295 hitter, she's played in 189 games, making 166 starts. In addition to her near-.300 average, she's also posted a .418 on-base percentage and a .597 slugging percentage, along with 40 home runs and 123 RBIs. Last season, Rollin hit with a .306/.372/.560 slash and hit 10 home runs.
Lair Beautae – INF - Tennessee
Beautae joins the Cougars following two seasons at Tennessee, helping the team sweep the SEC Championships in 2023. Across her pair of seasons, she's hit .276 with 52 runs and 23 extra base hits while adding 15 stolen bases.
Beautae was the No. 19 overall prospect and the No. 16 infielder in the class of 2021 by Extra Inning Softball and was the No. 55 overall prospect according to Softball America. A two-sport student-athlete in high school, she lettered in all four years in both softball and basketball.
Zaquai Dumas – INF – Michigan State
Dumas arrives in Houston after three seasons at Michigan State. In 91 career games with the Spartans, she tallied 31 hits, including 14 for extra bases, and 26 RBIs. She also swiped three bases while scoring 26 runs.
An Atlanta native, Dumas played prep softball for Westlake High School and broke the programs stolen bases record in her sophomore year and the home runs record in her junior campaign.
Shelby Smith – P - Seton Hall
A two-way force for Seton Hall over the last four years, Smith has amassed a 32-32 record with a 3.52 ERA in 406.2 career innings. A 2023 first team All-BIG EAST selection and a 2022 second team All-BIG EAST honoree, Smith also brings a .315 average with 15 home runs and 70 RBIs to the Cougars.
Seton Hall's leader in innings pitched, Smith tossed a 2.87 ERA with a 16-7 record, adding 15 complete games and two shutouts with 142 strikeouts last season. She also tossed a no-hitter in a six-inning win over Providence in 2023.
In her last two seasons at Seton Hall, Smith has posted a 3.14 ERA and tallied a 27-21 record with 276 strikeouts and 34 complete games. Prior to her collegiate career, she played for seven years for Lutheran South Academy in Houston. She was a two-time All-State First Team selection in her last two years of high school after being a two-time All-State Second Team honoree in the two years prior. In her junior and senior seasons, she compiled a 35-5 record with 438 strikeouts.
Kennedy Thomas – C/OF – Cal
Thomas, a starter for the last two years in a four-season stretch at Cal, has played in 150 games in her career, making 138 starts with the Golden Bears. In 382 at-bats, she's tallied 101 hits for a .264 average, adding 12 doubles and 39 RBI.
Adding a .335 slugging percentage and a .326 on-base percentage, Thomas was a staple in Cal's starting lineup since her arrival in 2020. This past season, she helped Cal reach the Regional Finals in the NCAA Tournament, the first appearance for the Bears since 2018.
Prior to her collegiate career, Thomas was a two-sport athlete in high school, playing softball and participating in track and field. In her track and field career, she ran in the 4x100 relay and finished fifth in the Capital Valley Conference Sections Discus.
Nicole Bodeux – P – Maryland
Bodeux made her collegiate debut for Maryland last season, making a lone appearance in the circle against No. 25 Baylor. Entering in relief, Bodeux tossed two innings, allowing only one hit and striking out one while throwing 33 pitches.
Before her arrival at Maryland, Bodeux was a two-time First Team All-District selection at Fulshear High School in Fulshear, Texas. She was ranked as the No. 38 recruit and the No. 16 pitcher in the 2022 signing class by Extra Innings Softball. As a senior, she helped Fulshear reach the area stage of the UIL Texas Softball 5A Region 1 & 3 Playoffs.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
JOIN the DIAMOND CLUB
Fans can help support the Houston Softball program by joining the Diamond Club. To find out more information about the Diamond Club, click here or call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4684).
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarSB on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at Houston Softball. Fans also can follow the team on Instagram at @UHCougarSB.
Tamya Waiters – P – UT ArlingtonWaiters joins Houston following a year at UT-Arlington. She made 17 appearances in the circle, including four starts, earning a win and posting a complete game in 37.1 innings pitched.
Waiters was named the 2022 DFW All-Metroplex 5A Player of the Year, Texas All-State Softball Team Pitcher, Texas Girls Association Softball Legacy Team and earned a Dallas Morning News Athlete of the Week honorable mention twice.
Paris Lehman -- P – Nicholls
Lehman lands in H-Town after playing in one season at Nicholls, making a team-leading 37 appearances in the circle and 18 starts. She posted five wins, 52 strikeouts and two saves while tossing six complete games.
In her preps career, she helped Tupelo High School win the 6A Mississippi State title in 2017 and played club softball for Mississippi Bombers Gold.
Mandy Esman -- INF – Michigan StateAfter playing a season for the Spartans, Esman arrives in Houston having made 46 starts during her lone collegiate season. In 132 at-bats, she posted a .265 average while tallying 16 extra-base hits and 19 RBIs.
Esman was a NFCA High School All-American in 2021 and a NFCA All-North Region First Team honoree in both 2021 and 2022 during her four years at Gull Lake High School.
Jazmyn Rollin -- INF – Arizona State
Rollin comes to Houston after two years at Arizona State and three seasons at Mizzou. A career .295 hitter, she's played in 189 games, making 166 starts. In addition to her near-.300 average, she's also posted a .418 on-base percentage and a .597 slugging percentage, along with 40 home runs and 123 RBIs. Last season, Rollin hit with a .306/.372/.560 slash and hit 10 home runs.
Lair Beautae – INF - TennesseeBeautae joins the Cougars following two seasons at Tennessee, helping the team sweep the SEC Championships in 2023. Across her pair of seasons, she's hit .276 with 52 runs and 23 extra base hits while adding 15 stolen bases.
Beautae was the No. 19 overall prospect and the No. 16 infielder in the class of 2021 by Extra Inning Softball and was the No. 55 overall prospect according to Softball America. A two-sport student-athlete in high school, she lettered in all four years in both softball and basketball.
Zaquai Dumas – INF – Michigan State
Dumas arrives in Houston after three seasons at Michigan State. In 91 career games with the Spartans, she tallied 31 hits, including 14 for extra bases, and 26 RBIs. She also swiped three bases while scoring 26 runs.
An Atlanta native, Dumas played prep softball for Westlake High School and broke the programs stolen bases record in her sophomore year and the home runs record in her junior campaign.
Shelby Smith – P - Seton HallA two-way force for Seton Hall over the last four years, Smith has amassed a 32-32 record with a 3.52 ERA in 406.2 career innings. A 2023 first team All-BIG EAST selection and a 2022 second team All-BIG EAST honoree, Smith also brings a .315 average with 15 home runs and 70 RBIs to the Cougars.
Seton Hall's leader in innings pitched, Smith tossed a 2.87 ERA with a 16-7 record, adding 15 complete games and two shutouts with 142 strikeouts last season. She also tossed a no-hitter in a six-inning win over Providence in 2023.
In her last two seasons at Seton Hall, Smith has posted a 3.14 ERA and tallied a 27-21 record with 276 strikeouts and 34 complete games. Prior to her collegiate career, she played for seven years for Lutheran South Academy in Houston. She was a two-time All-State First Team selection in her last two years of high school after being a two-time All-State Second Team honoree in the two years prior. In her junior and senior seasons, she compiled a 35-5 record with 438 strikeouts.
Kennedy Thomas – C/OF – Cal
Thomas, a starter for the last two years in a four-season stretch at Cal, has played in 150 games in her career, making 138 starts with the Golden Bears. In 382 at-bats, she's tallied 101 hits for a .264 average, adding 12 doubles and 39 RBI.
Adding a .335 slugging percentage and a .326 on-base percentage, Thomas was a staple in Cal's starting lineup since her arrival in 2020. This past season, she helped Cal reach the Regional Finals in the NCAA Tournament, the first appearance for the Bears since 2018.
Prior to her collegiate career, Thomas was a two-sport athlete in high school, playing softball and participating in track and field. In her track and field career, she ran in the 4x100 relay and finished fifth in the Capital Valley Conference Sections Discus.
Nicole Bodeux – P – MarylandBodeux made her collegiate debut for Maryland last season, making a lone appearance in the circle against No. 25 Baylor. Entering in relief, Bodeux tossed two innings, allowing only one hit and striking out one while throwing 33 pitches.
Before her arrival at Maryland, Bodeux was a two-time First Team All-District selection at Fulshear High School in Fulshear, Texas. She was ranked as the No. 38 recruit and the No. 16 pitcher in the 2022 signing class by Extra Innings Softball. As a senior, she helped Fulshear reach the area stage of the UIL Texas Softball 5A Region 1 & 3 Playoffs.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference. Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
JOIN the DIAMOND CLUB
Fans can help support the Houston Softball program by joining the Diamond Club. To find out more information about the Diamond Club, click here or call Cougar Pride at 713-743-GoUH (4684).
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarSB on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at Houston Softball. Fans also can follow the team on Instagram at @UHCougarSB.
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