KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee softball added a dynamic arm to next season's roster. Payton Gottshall verbally committed to Tennessee on Tuesday, according to her Twitter.
Gottshall is a Bowling Green State University transfer. She will be an upcoming junior and has two years of eligibility remaining for Tennessee.
She didn't anticipate committing so soon, but her trip to Knoxville sold her quickly.
"I actually came for a visit on Monday and Tuesday. with Coach Weekly and the coaching staff," she told WBIR. "We were just sitting there eating and it really felt like home. It felt like another family. It was kind of like my family, like stuff that we do. so that kind of made the decision for me."
On Bowling Green's career list, Gottshall ranks first in strikeouts with 784 in her career. She averages 10.13 strikeouts per game. She has a 1.77 earn run average.
She has thrown three perfect games in her career. Gottshall was the 2022 MAC Pitcher of the Year, All-Mac first team, and MAC All-Tournament team.
"I mean I just trust myself. I know I can get any hitter out in any situation," she said. "It's just being smart with my pitches. Not trying to place them or do too much with them. But get them to chase and get them to go after my pitch. Just do what I know I can."
Gottshall earned MAC pitcher-of-the-week honors seven times during the 2022 season. She was listed on the Extra Elite 100 College Player Preseason Rankings by Extra Inning Softball - which is a list of the top 100 players in the country.
Gottshall joins an elite Tennessee pitching staff led by ace, Ashley Rogers.
