HAMMOND, La. – Talented transfers Ariel Gomez and Sophia Stoddard will continue their academic and athletic endeavors as members of the Southeastern Louisiana University softball program, SLU head coach Rick Fremin announced Thursday.
 
Gomez, an outfielder from Spring, Texas, and Stoddard, a catcher from Salt Lake City, Utah, gives Southeastern a total of 11 newcomers on the 2024 roster. The newest additions join previous signees Chloe Bennett (Rosepine, Louisiana), Allison Brunson (Jena, Louisiana), Addison Contorno (Livingston, Louisiana), Breanna Fontenot (Moss Bluff, Louisiana), Faith Kivett (Tallulah, Louisiana), Destiny Lewis (Indianola, Iowa), Mykail Lusco (Harahan, Louisiana), Chloe Magee (Watson, Louisiana) and Gabby Mitchell (Eunice, Louisiana).
 
Gomez comes to Hammond after earning NFCA All-American honors as a sophomore this spring at Odessa College. Gomez helped the Wranglers to a third-place showing at the NJCAA Division I World Series, hitting .479 with five home runs, 47 RBI, 16 doubles, eight triples, 50 runs scored and 19 stolen bases.
 
Gomez, who began her collegiate career as a freshman at Cal State Northridge, prepped at The Woodlands High School. An all-district performer during her prep career, she also ran track in high school.
 
"We believe Ariel can be a triple threat for us in our lineup from the left side of the plate," Fremin commented. "She excelled versus high quality pitching at the NJCAA World Series and also runs well. We expect Ariel to be a great fit for our system."
 
Stoddard, who spent the 2023 season at Idaho State, will join the Southeastern program for her final collegiate campaign. She started her career at College of Southern Idaho, where she was an NJCAA All-American and Academic All-American.
 
During her two years at CSI, she had a .396 batting average, .719 slugging percentage, .538 on-base percentage, 28 home runs, 110 RBI and 93 walks. The Utah native prepped at Bountiful High School, where she was a standout in both softball and swimming.
 
"Sophia is going to be a great addition as a left-handed power bat," Fremin said. "She has a phenomenal attitude and we expect her to be a great teammate. Our program will benefit from both her talent on the field and her maturity off the field."
 
The Lady Lions will open their fall exhibition schedule versus LSU Eunice Sept. 29 at 5 p.m. at North Oak Park. The 2024 regular season will open up with SLU competing in the Mardi Gras Mambo Feb. 8-11 in Youngsville, Louisiana.
 
2024 Southeastern Softball Signing Class
Chloe Bennett | P | Rosepine, Louisiana | LSU Eunice | Rosepine HS
Allison Brunson | P | Jena, Louisiana | Northwest Florida State College | Jena HS
Addison Contorno | OF | Livingston, Louisiana | Copiah-Lincoln CC | Doyle HS
Breanna Fontenot | OF | Moss Bluff, Louisiana | Sam Houston HS
Ariel Gomez | OF | Spring, Texas | The Woodlands HS
Faith Kivett | UT | Tallulah, Louisiana | Copiah-Lincoln CC | Tallulah Academy
Destiny Lewis | IF | Indianola, Iowa | Indian Hills CC | Indianola HS
Mykail Lusco | IF | Harahan, Louisiana | Dominican HS
Chloe Magee | IF | Watson, Louisiana | Live Oak HS
Gabby Mitchell | UT | Eunice, Louisiana | Eunice HS
Sophia Stoddard | C | Salt Lake City, Utah | Idaho State | Bountiful HS
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Softball, follow @LionUpSoftball on Twitter and Instagram, like /SLUathletics on Facebook and subscribe to the SLUathletics YouTube channel.
 
HOME RUN CLUB / S CLUB
Fans interested in becoming active supporters of the softball program are encouraged to join the Home Run Club. Lady Lion softball alums are encouraged to join the exclusive S Club, which is restricted to Southeastern athletic letter winners.
 
All membership fees and donations to both the Home Run Club and S Club (softball) are available for the exclusive use of the Southeastern softball program. Membership information is available by contacting the Lion Athletics Association at laa@southeastern.edu or (985) 549-5091 or visiting www.LionUp.com.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics instituted a clear bag policy for all ticketed events (softball, baseball, football and basketball), effective with the start of the 2018 football season. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.