AUBURN, Ala. – Softball America released its first look at the Top 100 Collegiate Players for the upcoming 20201 campaign. Two Tigers earned a spot in the publication’s early rankings.
Junior pitcher Samantha Yarbrough returns to the list, checking in at No. 68. Yarbrough closed her debut season as part of Softball America’s Top 100 of 2020. Transferring into the program from Ole Miss, Kaylee Horton also earned a spot at No. 90.
Yarbrough appeared in 13 contests, primarily as a relief pitcher. The right-hander earned a starting role over the final two weeks of the shortened 2020 season with three starts in the circle, two of which were complete-game efforts.
Over her debut season with the Tigers, Yarbrough was undefeated in the circle with six wins and a save. She allowed just eight runs over 48.2 innings. With help of a 16.1 consecutive scoreless innings streak, Yarbrough recorded a team-leading 1.15 ERA, the sixth lowest among SEC pitchers. The Fairhope, Ala., native allowed just 24 hits and held opponents to a .147 average at the plate.
Horton, a transfer from Ole Miss, has not seen the field since the 2019 season, but the hype around her return to the diamond and her SEC resume earned a spot in the top 100.
During her last season with the Rebels, Horton was named to the SEC All-Defensive team after committing just one error in right field. The Jasper, Ala., native started 61 games for Ole Miss and closed the 2019 season with a .290 average with 31 runs scored and 28 RBI.
Horton was tied for second in the SEC with five triples. She added four doubles for a .364 slugging percentage. She tallied 13 multi-hit and eight multi-RBI games for the Rebels. On the base paths, Horton went 23-for-29 in steal attempts to rank fourth in the league.
