All-American Vawter, Jones Join Gamecock Softball

COLUMBIA, S.C. – South Carolina softball head coach Beverly Smith announced that NFCA All-American Alana Vawter (Kansas City, Mo./Stanford) and Kianna Jones (Surrey, British Columbia, Canada/North Carolina) will join the Gamecocks as transfers for the 2024 season.

A 6-foot, right-handed pitcher, Vawter capped her four seasons at Stanford with NFCA All-America honors, capturing a spot on the second team after leading the Cardinal to the Women’s College World Series and posting a 21-8 record with four saves in 40 appearances. Her 1.11 walks allowed per seven innings ranked 24th in the nation, and four shutouts helped deliver a 1.81 ERA. Vawter was dominant in the circle throughout her career, taking up residence in the Stanford all-time top five in career wins (4th, 77), shutouts (5th, 26) and strikeouts (5th, 527), to go along with her career 1.75 ERA. She is a three-time NFCA All-West Region selection and a three-time All-Pac-12 first team honoree. The Cardinal played in the NCAA Tournament all three seasons it was held in her career, advancing to the 2022 Super Regionals ahead of last season’s WCWS appearance. Vawter is also a two-time CSC Academic All-District selection (2022, 2023) and is currently playing with USA Softball at the Japan All-Star Series, which begins on Fri., Aug. 4.

Jones, a 6-foot utility player, joins the Gamecocks following two seasons at North Carolina where she posted a .977 fielding percentage to go with 10 home runs and 37 RBI. A member of the Canadian National Softball team, she graduated in May with a bachelor’s in exercise and sport science. Jones began her college career at Minnesota in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. Over her four collegiate seasons, she has amassed 23 extra-base hits and 40 RBI across her 119 games played, which includes 89 starts.

Jones and Vawter, who are in their final year of eligibility, join three other transfers announced by Smith last week – Denver Bryant (Albany, Ga./Auburn), Kiana “Kiki” Estrada (China Hills, Calif./Arkansas) and Brionna “Bre” Warren (College Station, Texas/Texas A&M).

For the latest on South Carolina Softball, visit GamecocksOnline.com or follow the team’s social media accounts on Twitter @GamecockSoftbll, Facebook /GamecockSoftball, and Instagram @GamecockSoftball.