HAMMOND, La. – Six student-athletes will continue their academic and athletic endeavors as members of the Southeastern Louisiana University softball program, SLU head softball coach Rick Fremin announced Thursday.
 
The newest Lady Lions will join SLU for the 2027 season. Southeastern's signing class includes pitcher Kayla Crawford (Meadville, Pa.), outfielder Keaunna Green (Lehigh Acres, Fla.), pitcher Isabella Hardeman (Spencer, Okla.), middle infielder/outfielder Leslee Maldonado (Yorktown, Va.), pitcher/utility player Ashtyn Rogers (Waggaman, La.) and catcher/infielder Cayden Tullier (Gonzales, La.)
 
"We were able to add some dynamic talent to our pitching staff, as well as athleticism and speed," Fremin commented. "We'll lose three senior arms and our entire starting outfield, so those were two areas where we wanted to maintain our high level of play and I believe we'll do that with these additions, while also continuing to add to our overall team speed."
 
The two-reigning Southland Conference Tournament champion Lady Lions will open the 2026 season Feb. 5 with a 6 p.m. contest versus Clemson to open the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Fla. SLU enters the 2026 season as one of eight Division I teams to post 40 or more victories in each of the past four seasons.
 
2027 Southeastern Softball Signing Class
Kayla Crawford | P | 6-1 | Meadville, Pa. | Cambridge Springs Senior HS
Keaunna Green | OF | 5-4 | Lehigh Acres, Fla. | Evangelical Christian School
Isabella Hardeman | P | 5-10 | Spencer, Okla. | Murray State College/Classen SAS HS
Leslee Maldonado | MI/OF | 5-6 | Yorktown, Va. | York HS
Ashtyn Rogers | P/UT | 5-7 | Waggaman, La. | Patrick Taylor Science and Technology Academy
Cayden Tullier | C/IF | 5-4 | Gonzales, La. | East Ascension HS
 
Kayla Crawford | P | 6-1 | Meadville, Pa. | Cambridge Springs Senior HS
Multi-time all-state performer at Cambridge Springs Senior High School … Earned first team honors as a junior on the way to helping team to state semifinals … Posted a 1.52 ERA last spring, striking out 208 batters in 115 innings pitched … Pitches for the Erie Lady Outlaws club team.
SLU head coach Rick Fremin on Kayla Crawford: "Kayla has put up phenomenal numbers throughout her high school and travel ball career. We're ecstatic about adding Kayla to our program. She brings a lot to the table and we expect her to be a staple of our pitching staff."
 
Keaunna Green | OF | 5-4 | Lehigh Acres, Fla. | Evangelical Christian School
Has helped Evangelical Christian School to back-to-back Class 1A state championships … Named Class 1A Player of the Year as a junior, finishing 2025 with a .518 batting average, .625 on-base percentage and 42 stolen bases … Also plays for the Rock Gold Manetta travel team.
Fremin on Green: Keaunna reminds me a lot of (2026 SLU senior outfielder) Shenita Tucker. She's productive from the left side of the plate and has the ability to play in the outfield and the middle infield. Her speed on the basepaths will help us replace what we're losing after next spring."
 
Isabella Hardeman | P | 5-10 | Spencer, Okla. | Murray State College/Classen SAS HS
Named the NJCAA Division II Pitcher of the Year as a freshman at Murray State College … Finished 30-0 in the circle with a 0.35 earned run average and 200 strikeouts in 140.2 innings pitched, allowing just seven earned runs on the season and holding opponents to a .132 batting average … Prepped at Classen SAS High School.
Fremin on Hardeman: "Isabella put up phenomenal numbers at Murray State College. That's a program that just wins and she's a large part of their success. She has a bright future in the Southland Conference."

Leslee Maldonado | MI/OF | 5-6 | Yorktown, Va. | York HS
All-state and all-district performer at York High School … Speedster also recently joined the EC Bullets travel team.
Fremin on Maldonado: "Leslie brings a lot of speed to our roster. She's extremely athletic and can play centerfield or shortstop. She's just deadly on the base paths and from both side of the plate."
 
Ashtyn Rogers | P/UT | 5-7 | Waggaman, La. | Patrick Taylor Science and Technology Academy
First player in Patrick Taylor Science and Technology Academy history to earn All-State honors … Also earned Metro Class 3A or lower Player of the Year honors as a junior from The Times-Picayune after striking out 211 and posting an 0.73 earned run average … A member of the Marucci Patriots travel team.
Fremin on Rogers: "Ashtyn is a local talent who has put up great numbers within the state. She's extremely athletic at the pitcher position. She has the potential to possibly contribute offensively, but her future's great in the circle."
 
Cayden Tullier | C/IF | 5-4 | Gonzales, La. | East Ascension HS
Multi-time All-state, All-District and All-Metro performer at East Ascension High School … Selected to play for the U18 national team in 2024 … Hit. 508 with 18 home runs, 48 RBI and 63 runs scored as a sophomore …. Followed that up with a .500 batting average, 12 home runs and 39 RBI in her junior campaign … Also plays for the Louisiana Blazers travel team.
Fremin on Tullier: "Cayden is a nationally ranked Team USA talent out of East Ascension High School that we're excited to add to our program. Cayden can play any position and we expect her to see time for us at both third base and catcher. She's put up great offensive numbers and was very sought after player nationally during the recruiting process."

SOCIAL MEDIA
For more information on Southeastern Softball, follow @LionUpSoftball on X and Instagram, like /SLUathletics on Facebook.
 
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.
 
TICKETS
For ticket information, please contact the Southeastern Athletics Ticket Office at (985) 549-5466 or visit www.LionSports.net/tickets. Southeastern offers mobile ticketing as the primary source for securing tickets. All tickets will be available via e-mail in a PDF format for fans to download on their phone or print at home. Tickets can also be downloaded to Apple Wallet.
 
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Southeastern Athletics has a clear bag policy for all ticketed events. For more information on the clear bag policy, visit www.LionSports.net/clear.
 
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