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Gaston College's Kendall Bradshaw, who recently committed to Appalachian State, is one of the Rhinos' top hitters this season.
Gaston College's Kendall Bradshaw, who recently committed to Appalachian State, is one of the Rhinos' top hitters this season.
Posted: Mar 17, 2025

Gaston College softball enters closing streak with No. 13 national ranking, national attention

After a stretch of six doubleheaders in 14 days saw Gaston College's No. 13-ranked softball team improve to 33-3 start, the Rhinos are getting their longest break of the season this week.

Due to the rare break and the team's good play, coach Mike Steuerwald gave his team the weekend off as it prepares to close out its regular season with 22 Region 10 Division I games out of its final 24 contests.

"We've been playing pretty good softball overall heading into this heavy conference stretch," Steuerwald said. "It's just a matter of maintaining what we've been doing on the field. We've just got to pay attention to detail and stay ready to keep rolling."

Sophomore Kendall Bradshaw is leading the way with .519 batting average, .615 on-base percentage and .880 slugging percentage with eight home runs and 49 RBIs in addition to recently becoming the school's all time leader in hits (133); Bradshaw surpassed Gabrielle Porterfield's 130 from 2023 to 2024.

Additionally, Bradshaw recently committed to play at Appalachian State next season.

Other top Rhinos' hitters have been Sarah Johnson (.500 average, four home runs, 44 RBIs), McKenna Jones (.462 average, 12 RBIs), Grace Kealy (.454 average, team-high 12 home runs, team-high 55 RBIs), Addison Marr (.444 average), McKinley Matthews (.444 average), Mary Hinson (.433 average, 29 RBIs), Savanna Mullins (.414 average, 1 home run, 12 RBIs), Alayna Patrick (.393 average, 3 home runs, 36 RBIs), Katelyn Brandon (.388 average, 9 home runs, 35 RBIs), Skye Harrington (.385 average, 7 home runs, 37 RBIs), Arissa Duff (.383 average, 18 RBIs) and Savanna Price (.339 average, 2 home runs, 21 RBIs).

In the circle, Kristyn Ezzo (9-0 record, 3 saves, 1.90 ERA), Abigail Brewton (11-1 record, 4.47 ERA), Mullins (8-1 record, 4.58 ERA) and Phoebe Cole (3-0 record, 2.19 ERA) lead a balanced pitching staff.

"It's been a really good group to be around and their level of competitiveness has been great," Steuerwald said. "And the team's success has garnered national attention. Not just in the polls, but we've had power four schools come to our games recently a lot of four-year schools have been coming to our practices recently."

After visiting USC Union in a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Friday, the Rhinos hosts USC Sumter in a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Family and Faith Day at Gastonia's CaroMont Health Park.