Smith Adds UNC Star Taylor Wike To Staff

COLUMBIA, S.C. —- South Carolina softball head coach Beverly Smith assembled more defensive knowledge to complement the staff with the addition of former University of North Carolina standout Taylor Wike, Smith announced today. 
 
Wike spent the last four years at UNC where she was a two-time NFCA All-Southeast Regional nominee and three-time All-ACC selection. A native of Statesville, N.C., she started 225 games during her career in which she missed out on just one start. She left the Tar Heels with the program record in walks (122), assists (451) and double plays turned (48). On top of her records owned, she finished in the top-10 in 17 other North Carolina career marks and 11 single-season records. She stands at No. 23 in the NCAA Softball ranking for career walks with 122. 
 
“I’m really excited for the opportunity to join a team that had such a great season last year,” Wike said. “It’s really exciting. I can’t wait to see what the team does this year.” 
 
During her time in Chapel Hill, N.C., Wike was named to the ACC All-Tournament Team twice (2016, 2018), ACC Player of the Week twice (3/13/18, 4/3/18), earned an ACC Academic Honor Roll spot once and was named an NFCA National Freshman of the Year Finalist in 2015. She graduated this past May with a degree in Exercise and Sport Science. 
 
In 2018, she started all 56 games at shortstop on her way to hitting .354 with 20 extra-base hits for a .591 slugging percentage. Wike notably drove in a team-best 34 runs on 58 hits with 25 walks. 
 
Carolina comes off a season in which it finished 49-17 and reached an NCAA Super Regional for the second time in program history. The sixth-straight trip to the postseason is tied for the longest streak in program history. 
 
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