Troy University Athletics
Troy Softball Announces Four Incoming Transfers
8/16/2024 6:10:00 PM | Softball
TROY, Ala. – With the fall 2024 season right around the corner, head coach Eric Newell and the Troy softball team inks four transfers to complete their roster.
"We are super excited about our transfer additions that we have added this summer," Newell said. "Each player has a unique skill set they are bringing to the table, and I can't wait to see them hit the field as Trojans."
A pair of Junior College products from Florida in Esmee Ames and Megan Loftis, an Alabama native in McKinnon Howard and former SEC player Annie Orman completes the 26-women roster.
Esmee Ames | Pitcher | Haarlem, Netherlands | Florida Southwestern State
The 'Hollands' native comes to Troy after two seasons with Florida Southwestern State, leading her team to two straight NJCAA Championships. In two years, she appeared in 49 games (157.2 IP) with 24 starts, a 22-6 record, six saves, five complete games, 165 strikeouts (7.33 K/7), a 1.95 ERA and 1.31 WHIP – ended her career ninth in wins, seventh in strikeouts and games pitches, eighth in innings pitched and tied for fourth in saves. A member of the All-Citrus First Team in 2024, Ames shined with 21 wins, 147 strikeouts and six saves through 142.2 innings.
"Ames will bring maturity, depth and competitive experience in the circle," Newell said. "Assistant Coach Camden Decker is excited about the versatility, competitiveness and mental toughness that Esmee will bring to the team."
Megan Loftis | Outfielder | Tampa, Fla. | Central Florida
Formerly from Central Florida, Loftis is fresh off an NJCAA D-I All-American and Mid-Florida Player of the Year nod after leading the nation in hits with 104 on 211 at-bats games for a .493 batting average (14th nationally) and .541 on-base percentage (35th nationally). Loftis also ranked third in the country for stolen bases, with 75 through 60 games, peaking with five at Gulf Coast – stole multiple bases in 22 games. En route to the single-season record for stolen bases, Loftis ended her time in the Sunshine State with a stolen base in 11 of her final 13 games – totaled 16 in that span.
"Loftis, like Ames, is a product of the Florida JC system," Newell said. "Megan will give us depth in the outfield, brings elite caliber speed and is an extremely tough out."
McKinnon Howard | Outfielder | Phenix City, Ala. | Wallace State
Howard remains in-state with two ACCC Conference Championships at Wallace State. Before redshirting her sophomore season, the Phenix City native excelled through her freshman year with a .491 slugging percentage, .488 on-base percentage, .446 batting average, 50 hits, 29 runs and 38 stolen bases through 51 games – ranked fourth nationally in stolen bases. Her sophomore season saw McKinnon compete in 16 games before redshirting, tallying 13 hits, seven runs and seven stolen bases.
"Howard is an in-state JC product that slaps from the left side," Newell said. "McKinnon will help give us depth in the outfield and, like Loftis, has a ton of speed with excellent baserunning."
Annie Orman | Outfielder | Myrtle, Miss. | Ole Miss
Orman spent three seasons at Ole Miss, saving her best for last when she appeared in 42 games (15 starts) to help bring an eighth straight NCAA Tournament bid to Oxford. The West Union High School graduate recorded a .266 batting average with 17 hits, 14 RBIs and seven runs, scoring one of her RBIs in the SEC Tournament against No. 25 Kentucky. She also pinch-hit a two-run homer to tie the ballgame on an eventual win over No. 17 Mississippi State.
"We love that Annie has big game experience and has had several at-bats competing in the SEC over the past three seasons," Newell said. "She has extra-base hit pop, and we will lean on her to bring leadership to our outfield."
"We are super excited about our transfer additions that we have added this summer," Newell said. "Each player has a unique skill set they are bringing to the table, and I can't wait to see them hit the field as Trojans."
A pair of Junior College products from Florida in Esmee Ames and Megan Loftis, an Alabama native in McKinnon Howard and former SEC player Annie Orman completes the 26-women roster.
Esmee Ames | Pitcher | Haarlem, Netherlands | Florida Southwestern State
The 'Hollands' native comes to Troy after two seasons with Florida Southwestern State, leading her team to two straight NJCAA Championships. In two years, she appeared in 49 games (157.2 IP) with 24 starts, a 22-6 record, six saves, five complete games, 165 strikeouts (7.33 K/7), a 1.95 ERA and 1.31 WHIP – ended her career ninth in wins, seventh in strikeouts and games pitches, eighth in innings pitched and tied for fourth in saves. A member of the All-Citrus First Team in 2024, Ames shined with 21 wins, 147 strikeouts and six saves through 142.2 innings.
"Ames will bring maturity, depth and competitive experience in the circle," Newell said. "Assistant Coach Camden Decker is excited about the versatility, competitiveness and mental toughness that Esmee will bring to the team."
Megan Loftis | Outfielder | Tampa, Fla. | Central Florida
Formerly from Central Florida, Loftis is fresh off an NJCAA D-I All-American and Mid-Florida Player of the Year nod after leading the nation in hits with 104 on 211 at-bats games for a .493 batting average (14th nationally) and .541 on-base percentage (35th nationally). Loftis also ranked third in the country for stolen bases, with 75 through 60 games, peaking with five at Gulf Coast – stole multiple bases in 22 games. En route to the single-season record for stolen bases, Loftis ended her time in the Sunshine State with a stolen base in 11 of her final 13 games – totaled 16 in that span.
"Loftis, like Ames, is a product of the Florida JC system," Newell said. "Megan will give us depth in the outfield, brings elite caliber speed and is an extremely tough out."
McKinnon Howard | Outfielder | Phenix City, Ala. | Wallace State
Howard remains in-state with two ACCC Conference Championships at Wallace State. Before redshirting her sophomore season, the Phenix City native excelled through her freshman year with a .491 slugging percentage, .488 on-base percentage, .446 batting average, 50 hits, 29 runs and 38 stolen bases through 51 games – ranked fourth nationally in stolen bases. Her sophomore season saw McKinnon compete in 16 games before redshirting, tallying 13 hits, seven runs and seven stolen bases.
"Howard is an in-state JC product that slaps from the left side," Newell said. "McKinnon will help give us depth in the outfield and, like Loftis, has a ton of speed with excellent baserunning."
Annie Orman | Outfielder | Myrtle, Miss. | Ole Miss
Orman spent three seasons at Ole Miss, saving her best for last when she appeared in 42 games (15 starts) to help bring an eighth straight NCAA Tournament bid to Oxford. The West Union High School graduate recorded a .266 batting average with 17 hits, 14 RBIs and seven runs, scoring one of her RBIs in the SEC Tournament against No. 25 Kentucky. She also pinch-hit a two-run homer to tie the ballgame on an eventual win over No. 17 Mississippi State.
"We love that Annie has big game experience and has had several at-bats competing in the SEC over the past three seasons," Newell said. "She has extra-base hit pop, and we will lean on her to bring leadership to our outfield."
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