Troy University Athletics
Softball Adds Five Transfers to 2026 Roster
7/31/2025 3:29:00 PM | Softball
TROY, Ala. – The Troy softball program, under head coach Eric Newell, added five transfers to the 2026 roster that includes a JUCO transfer (Lydia Kirby), three from power-four conferences (Kyye Ricks, Kam Munson, Kiley Huffman) and one from the Southland Conference (Emma Banks).
"Collectively, the above class of transfer portal players, in addition to the transfers that we signed earlier in the summer in Cunningham (Michigan State), White (South Alabama), Rochinski (UTSA) and Jenkins (Grayson J.C.) should bring a championship mentality to our program," head coach Eric Newell said. "We are obviously biased, but we feel really good about these additions and the potential that this softball team has moving forward."
Lydia Kirby | Utility | R/R | Alvaton, Ky. (Volunteer State)
A JUCO All-American First Team member in 2025, Kirby ranked third in the nation for RBIs at 103. She dominated at the plate with a .445 clip, earning 61 runs, 94 hits, 17 doubles, five triples, 13 homers, 160 total bases and six sac flies to finish with a .472 on-base percentage and .758 slugging percentage. She peaked on Feb. 14 in a 21-1 victory over Milwaukee Area with a 4-for-4 showing and five RBIs – her season-high in RBIs was six against Motlow State.
"Lydia was one of the top RBI producers in all of NJCAA this past season," Newell said. "She has the ability to play several positions, but probably most likely will settle into either third base or behind the plate."
Her freshman season impressed with career-bests in RBIs (104), on-base percentage (.514), slugging percentage (.830), runs (66), homers (16) and doubles (19) – her 104 RBIs ranked second in the nation. En route to a 43-21 record, Kirby had 29 multi-RBI games, which included a career-high of eight against Cleveland State off two homers and a double.
Kyye Ricks | Outfielder | L/R | Fayetteville, Ga. (South Carolina)
The lone SEC transfer on the 2026 roster joins the Trojan roster after two seasons with the Gamecocks, which included two trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2023 and 2024. Ricks' 2023 season saw her utilized primarily as a pinch runner, making 42 appearances. Her pinch running saw Ricks have 11 stolen bases to rank 7th all-time by a freshman – she also stepped up to bat six times and scored 17 runs. She recorded career-highs in stolen bases against Charleston Southern and Columbia with two. Over the summer, Ricks also excelled in the Chattanooga Summer Collegiate League as the Offensive Player of the Year.
"Kyye is an outfielder who is an absolute spark plug both offensively and defensively," Newell said. "She has the potential to be a major contributor not only on our team but in the Sun Belt Conference."
Her sophomore season saw her stealing abilities on full display again with another 42 appearances. Ricks managed to go 8-for-10 in stolen base attempts, while scoring a career-best 18 runs. The outfielder also tied her career-high of two stolen bases in a 7-2 victory against Charlotte.
Kam Munson | Utility | R/R | Lawrenceville, Ga. (NC State)
After one season with the Wolfpack of NC State, Munson comes to Troy for her sophomore season. She made 31 appearances, primarily as a pinch runner, going 4-for-6 in stolen base attempts and scoring seven runs.
"Kam has incredible versatility and athleticism as both an infielder and outfielder," Newell said. "Additionally, she has significant power at the plate that we are very excited about."
Doubling as a track and field athlete, Munson graduated from Collins Hill High School in Suwannee, Ga. Munson peaked in her junior season with a .467 batting average, 13 homers, 30 RBIs and 26 runs to earn All-County First Team, All-Region honors and All-State First Team – she holds the single-season record for homers and single-game record for stolen bases and RBIs.
Kiley Huffman | Outfielder | L/L | Alvin, Texas (Texas Tech)
A sophomore from Texas Tech, Huffman played at Texas Tech for 34 games with nine starts and won the Big 12 Championship in 2025 – Texas Tech finished runner-up in the 2025 NCAA National Championship. She totaled eight hits, three doubles and eight RBIs with eight putouts for a perfect fielding percentage. She peaked with a double and three RBIs against Detroit Mercy while adding hits against Baylor and South Carolina.
"Kiley is an outfielder from Texas who has an impressive skill set," Newell said. "She has a silky-smooth swing and a great presence about her in the batter's box."
Huffman attended Alvin High School as the No. 19-ranked outfielder in the class of 2024 by Extra Innings. She earned First Team Outfielder, Academic All-District Team and TSWA Class 6A All-State Third Team Outfielder while averaging a .481 clip on 23 RBIs and 25 runs in her senior season.
Emma Banks | Pitcher | R/R| Stuttgart, Ark. (McNeese State)
From Stuttgart, Ark., Banks comes to Troy for her junior season after winning the Southland Conference Championship in 2024 and 2025. She also brings a pair of 4A region titles from her sophomore and junior seasons at Stuttgart High School. As a Ricebird, she pitched over 300 strikeouts while earning 4A All-Region First Team, Arkansas All-State Team and the All-Arkansas Prep Team – she earned all those accolades twice.
"Emma is a pitcher with an incredible desire to win and compete in the circle," Newell said. "Our staff was impressed with her grittiness, and she brings a tough-as-nails attitude to the team."
In 2024, Banks was medically redshirted before making her collegiate debut against Tennessee on Feb. 14, 2025, where she faced five batters with zero earned runs. Her first career victory came a day later against Missouri State with 1.2 IP and her first career strikeout. In her final showing at McNeese, Banks dueled 2.2 innings in an 11-2 win over Stephen F. Austin, delivering a pair of punch outs and no extra base hits.
"Collectively, the above class of transfer portal players, in addition to the transfers that we signed earlier in the summer in Cunningham (Michigan State), White (South Alabama), Rochinski (UTSA) and Jenkins (Grayson J.C.) should bring a championship mentality to our program," head coach Eric Newell said. "We are obviously biased, but we feel really good about these additions and the potential that this softball team has moving forward."
Lydia Kirby | Utility | R/R | Alvaton, Ky. (Volunteer State)
A JUCO All-American First Team member in 2025, Kirby ranked third in the nation for RBIs at 103. She dominated at the plate with a .445 clip, earning 61 runs, 94 hits, 17 doubles, five triples, 13 homers, 160 total bases and six sac flies to finish with a .472 on-base percentage and .758 slugging percentage. She peaked on Feb. 14 in a 21-1 victory over Milwaukee Area with a 4-for-4 showing and five RBIs – her season-high in RBIs was six against Motlow State.
"Lydia was one of the top RBI producers in all of NJCAA this past season," Newell said. "She has the ability to play several positions, but probably most likely will settle into either third base or behind the plate."
Her freshman season impressed with career-bests in RBIs (104), on-base percentage (.514), slugging percentage (.830), runs (66), homers (16) and doubles (19) – her 104 RBIs ranked second in the nation. En route to a 43-21 record, Kirby had 29 multi-RBI games, which included a career-high of eight against Cleveland State off two homers and a double.
Kyye Ricks | Outfielder | L/R | Fayetteville, Ga. (South Carolina)
The lone SEC transfer on the 2026 roster joins the Trojan roster after two seasons with the Gamecocks, which included two trips to the NCAA Tournament in 2023 and 2024. Ricks' 2023 season saw her utilized primarily as a pinch runner, making 42 appearances. Her pinch running saw Ricks have 11 stolen bases to rank 7th all-time by a freshman – she also stepped up to bat six times and scored 17 runs. She recorded career-highs in stolen bases against Charleston Southern and Columbia with two. Over the summer, Ricks also excelled in the Chattanooga Summer Collegiate League as the Offensive Player of the Year.
"Kyye is an outfielder who is an absolute spark plug both offensively and defensively," Newell said. "She has the potential to be a major contributor not only on our team but in the Sun Belt Conference."
Her sophomore season saw her stealing abilities on full display again with another 42 appearances. Ricks managed to go 8-for-10 in stolen base attempts, while scoring a career-best 18 runs. The outfielder also tied her career-high of two stolen bases in a 7-2 victory against Charlotte.
Kam Munson | Utility | R/R | Lawrenceville, Ga. (NC State)
After one season with the Wolfpack of NC State, Munson comes to Troy for her sophomore season. She made 31 appearances, primarily as a pinch runner, going 4-for-6 in stolen base attempts and scoring seven runs.
"Kam has incredible versatility and athleticism as both an infielder and outfielder," Newell said. "Additionally, she has significant power at the plate that we are very excited about."
Doubling as a track and field athlete, Munson graduated from Collins Hill High School in Suwannee, Ga. Munson peaked in her junior season with a .467 batting average, 13 homers, 30 RBIs and 26 runs to earn All-County First Team, All-Region honors and All-State First Team – she holds the single-season record for homers and single-game record for stolen bases and RBIs.
Kiley Huffman | Outfielder | L/L | Alvin, Texas (Texas Tech)
A sophomore from Texas Tech, Huffman played at Texas Tech for 34 games with nine starts and won the Big 12 Championship in 2025 – Texas Tech finished runner-up in the 2025 NCAA National Championship. She totaled eight hits, three doubles and eight RBIs with eight putouts for a perfect fielding percentage. She peaked with a double and three RBIs against Detroit Mercy while adding hits against Baylor and South Carolina.
"Kiley is an outfielder from Texas who has an impressive skill set," Newell said. "She has a silky-smooth swing and a great presence about her in the batter's box."
Huffman attended Alvin High School as the No. 19-ranked outfielder in the class of 2024 by Extra Innings. She earned First Team Outfielder, Academic All-District Team and TSWA Class 6A All-State Third Team Outfielder while averaging a .481 clip on 23 RBIs and 25 runs in her senior season.
Emma Banks | Pitcher | R/R| Stuttgart, Ark. (McNeese State)
From Stuttgart, Ark., Banks comes to Troy for her junior season after winning the Southland Conference Championship in 2024 and 2025. She also brings a pair of 4A region titles from her sophomore and junior seasons at Stuttgart High School. As a Ricebird, she pitched over 300 strikeouts while earning 4A All-Region First Team, Arkansas All-State Team and the All-Arkansas Prep Team – she earned all those accolades twice.
"Emma is a pitcher with an incredible desire to win and compete in the circle," Newell said. "Our staff was impressed with her grittiness, and she brings a tough-as-nails attitude to the team."
In 2024, Banks was medically redshirted before making her collegiate debut against Tennessee on Feb. 14, 2025, where she faced five batters with zero earned runs. Her first career victory came a day later against Missouri State with 1.2 IP and her first career strikeout. In her final showing at McNeese, Banks dueled 2.2 innings in an 11-2 win over Stephen F. Austin, delivering a pair of punch outs and no extra base hits.
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