University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Softball Inks Seven on National Signing Day
11/12/2025 7:37:00 PM | Softball
HATTIESBURG, Miss.- Southern Miss Softball head coach Natalie Poole announced seven new members will join the program for National Signing Day, on Wednesday.
The 2026 Golden Eagles signee class includes Maddie Watson, Mackenzie Tucker, Emily Williams, Halle Bennett, Anna Sawyer, Elizabeth "Bet" Pullen and Kaylee McDonald, bringing in talent from across the country.
"We are thrilled to sign our 2026 class of athletes. We were looking for specific positions and qualities in this group and we feel we found exactly what we were looking for," said Poole. "Kaylee McDonald will be a great addition to our pitching staff. Mackenzie Tucker, [Elizabeth] Bet Pullen, Anna Sawyer and Halle Bennett will be excellent additions to our infield, and a couple of them will be able to be used in more than one position. Maddie Watson and Emily Williams will be excellent outfield contributors to the team. We've got some really good power at the plate in this group and look forward to that added piece. These young women excel athletically and academically. We are so happy to make things official."
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Mackenzie Tucker | IF | James W Mitchell High School | New Port Richey, Fla.
Tucker joins the Golden Eagles from James W. Mitchell High School in New Port Richey, Fla., where she earned numerous accolades throughout her high school career. She was standout both offensively and defensively, being named Conference Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and MVP Player of the Year. Tucker was also a two-time First Team selection. At the plate, she posted a .415 batting average with 13 home runs, recording her 100th career hit during her junior season.
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Elizabeth "Bet" Pullen | OF | Madison Central High School | Madison, Miss.
Pullen joins the Golden Eagles from Madison Central High School in Madison, Miss., where she has been a consistent talent both academically and athletically. A four-time All-District selection, earning honors each year since the 8th grade, Pullen has demonstrated excellence on the field. While in the classroom, she was recognized as a National Merit Commended Scholar for her academic achievements.
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Anna Sawyer | IF | Parklane Academy | Summit, Miss.
Sawyer comes to the Golden Eagles from Parklane Academy in Summit, Miss., where she had a remarkable varsity career spanning from 8th to 12th grade. Over that time, she posted a .411 career batting average with 169 hits, 111 RBIs and eight home runs. In her senior season alone, she hit .490 with 48 hits, 32 RBIs and three home runs. Sawyer's accolades include selections to the MAIS All-Conference Team (2022, 2023, 2025), Offensive MVP for Softball (2023), 5A 1st Team All-District (2023, 2024) and 3A/4A MAIS All-Star Game MVP (2025).
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Halle Bennett | UTL Â | Parklane Academy | Tylertown, Miss.
Bennett will join the Golden Eagles from Parklane Academy in Tylertown, Miss., where she excelled as a versatile utility player. In her senior season, she hit .433 with six home runs, 27 RBIs and 45 hits. Bennett's honors include Co-Defensive MVP (2023), First Team All-District (2024, 2025), MAIS All-Conference Team (2025), Heart and Hustle Award (2024) and Parklane High School Player of the Month (2025). She was also voted team Co-Captain for her leadership with the team.
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Kaylee McDonald | P | Des Arc High School | Des Arc, Ark.
McDonald joins the Golden Eagles from Des Arc High School in Des Arc, Ark., where she was a multi-sport standout in softball, basketball, and track. A MaxPreps All-American, she earned All-Conference honors in all three sports, along with All-Region and All-State selections in softball and track. Over her high school career, McDonald posted a .459 batting average with 19 home runs, while pitching 356.2 innings with an impressive 0.864 ERA, 765 strikeouts and just 84 walks. She also excelled academically, graduating with a 3.95 GPA.
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Emily Williams | OF | John Carroll Catholic High School |Hoover, Ala.
Williams comes to the Golden Eagles from John Carroll Catholic High School in Hoover, Ala., where she was a three-sport athlete in flag football, basketball, and softball. In flag football, she earned 2023 Over the Mountain Second Team honors while playing multiple positions including quarterback and receiver. On the basketball court, she was named to the All-Tournament Team, All-South Metro Honorable Mention and the All-State Team (2024–25), helping her team to a Class 5A Area 9 title. In softball, Williams was a six-year varsity player and a consistent offensive threat. She earned All-South Metro First Team honors as a designated hitter (2024–25) and Second Team honors in 2023–24. She was also selected for the North AHSAA All-Star Game (2025) and named one of Birmingham's Top 22 Softball Players (2024–25). Her 2024–25 high school season included 14 home runs, 52 RBIs, and 41 runs scored. Williams also competes for the Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier–Chaney, where she ranked No. 38 nationally by Line Drive Media after posting 8 home runs, 30 RBIs, and 27 runs during the 2024–25 club season.
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Maddie Watson | OF | Oak Forest Academy | Kentwood, La.
Watson joins the Golden Eagles from Oak Forest Academy in Kentwood, La., where she delivered a strong senior campaign. Over 22 games, she hit .322 with a .425 on-base percentage, tallying 22 hits, 16 RBIs and 22 runs scored. She also stole 16 bases and posted a .917 fielding percentage in the outfield, demonstrating both offensive prowess and defensive consistency.
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The 2026 Golden Eagles signee class includes Maddie Watson, Mackenzie Tucker, Emily Williams, Halle Bennett, Anna Sawyer, Elizabeth "Bet" Pullen and Kaylee McDonald, bringing in talent from across the country.
"We are thrilled to sign our 2026 class of athletes. We were looking for specific positions and qualities in this group and we feel we found exactly what we were looking for," said Poole. "Kaylee McDonald will be a great addition to our pitching staff. Mackenzie Tucker, [Elizabeth] Bet Pullen, Anna Sawyer and Halle Bennett will be excellent additions to our infield, and a couple of them will be able to be used in more than one position. Maddie Watson and Emily Williams will be excellent outfield contributors to the team. We've got some really good power at the plate in this group and look forward to that added piece. These young women excel athletically and academically. We are so happy to make things official."
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Mackenzie Tucker | IF | James W Mitchell High School | New Port Richey, Fla.
Tucker joins the Golden Eagles from James W. Mitchell High School in New Port Richey, Fla., where she earned numerous accolades throughout her high school career. She was standout both offensively and defensively, being named Conference Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and MVP Player of the Year. Tucker was also a two-time First Team selection. At the plate, she posted a .415 batting average with 13 home runs, recording her 100th career hit during her junior season.
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Elizabeth "Bet" Pullen | OF | Madison Central High School | Madison, Miss.
Pullen joins the Golden Eagles from Madison Central High School in Madison, Miss., where she has been a consistent talent both academically and athletically. A four-time All-District selection, earning honors each year since the 8th grade, Pullen has demonstrated excellence on the field. While in the classroom, she was recognized as a National Merit Commended Scholar for her academic achievements.
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Anna Sawyer | IF | Parklane Academy | Summit, Miss.
Sawyer comes to the Golden Eagles from Parklane Academy in Summit, Miss., where she had a remarkable varsity career spanning from 8th to 12th grade. Over that time, she posted a .411 career batting average with 169 hits, 111 RBIs and eight home runs. In her senior season alone, she hit .490 with 48 hits, 32 RBIs and three home runs. Sawyer's accolades include selections to the MAIS All-Conference Team (2022, 2023, 2025), Offensive MVP for Softball (2023), 5A 1st Team All-District (2023, 2024) and 3A/4A MAIS All-Star Game MVP (2025).
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Halle Bennett | UTL Â | Parklane Academy | Tylertown, Miss.
Bennett will join the Golden Eagles from Parklane Academy in Tylertown, Miss., where she excelled as a versatile utility player. In her senior season, she hit .433 with six home runs, 27 RBIs and 45 hits. Bennett's honors include Co-Defensive MVP (2023), First Team All-District (2024, 2025), MAIS All-Conference Team (2025), Heart and Hustle Award (2024) and Parklane High School Player of the Month (2025). She was also voted team Co-Captain for her leadership with the team.
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Kaylee McDonald | P | Des Arc High School | Des Arc, Ark.
McDonald joins the Golden Eagles from Des Arc High School in Des Arc, Ark., where she was a multi-sport standout in softball, basketball, and track. A MaxPreps All-American, she earned All-Conference honors in all three sports, along with All-Region and All-State selections in softball and track. Over her high school career, McDonald posted a .459 batting average with 19 home runs, while pitching 356.2 innings with an impressive 0.864 ERA, 765 strikeouts and just 84 walks. She also excelled academically, graduating with a 3.95 GPA.
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Emily Williams | OF | John Carroll Catholic High School |Hoover, Ala.
Williams comes to the Golden Eagles from John Carroll Catholic High School in Hoover, Ala., where she was a three-sport athlete in flag football, basketball, and softball. In flag football, she earned 2023 Over the Mountain Second Team honors while playing multiple positions including quarterback and receiver. On the basketball court, she was named to the All-Tournament Team, All-South Metro Honorable Mention and the All-State Team (2024–25), helping her team to a Class 5A Area 9 title. In softball, Williams was a six-year varsity player and a consistent offensive threat. She earned All-South Metro First Team honors as a designated hitter (2024–25) and Second Team honors in 2023–24. She was also selected for the North AHSAA All-Star Game (2025) and named one of Birmingham's Top 22 Softball Players (2024–25). Her 2024–25 high school season included 14 home runs, 52 RBIs, and 41 runs scored. Williams also competes for the Birmingham Thunderbolts Premier–Chaney, where she ranked No. 38 nationally by Line Drive Media after posting 8 home runs, 30 RBIs, and 27 runs during the 2024–25 club season.
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Maddie Watson | OF | Oak Forest Academy | Kentwood, La.
Watson joins the Golden Eagles from Oak Forest Academy in Kentwood, La., where she delivered a strong senior campaign. Over 22 games, she hit .322 with a .425 on-base percentage, tallying 22 hits, 16 RBIs and 22 runs scored. She also stole 16 bases and posted a .917 fielding percentage in the outfield, demonstrating both offensive prowess and defensive consistency.
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