ASU Softball: Gibson and Juarez announce intention to transfer from Arizona State

(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available. Most recent update: Nov. 11, 2018

Hours apart Tuesday afternoon, Arizona State softball first baseman Danielle Gibson and pitcher Giselle “G” Juarez announced on social media their intentions to transfer from ASU. These departures now give ASU seven players who have left the program since the start of last season.

Gibson posted a statement via Twitter at 11:55 a.m., which was immediately retweeted by Juarez.

The tweet included a screenshot of a message that read, “First things first, a huge thank you to my friends, family, and fans who have supported me through my time at Arizona State University. I will always be grateful for the opportunities and relationships made at this school and in this program. Growing up, Arizona State had been a school I had dreamt of attending. I am so appreciative to have been given the opportunity to play softball and represent such a great university. With a lot of thought and prayers, I have decided to transfer out of ASU. My heart aches but I’m so incredibly excited to begin this new adventure! Gods (sic) got me and has my back. I’m trusting the process and looking forward to the many relationships and friendships to be made. Arizona State Softball will always hold a piece of me (sic) heart!”

Just over four hours later at 4:08 p.m., Juarez posted a similar message, one that was immediately retweeted by Gibson.

The second tweeted included a screenshot that read, “Playing in front of my hometown crowd was nothing short of a blessing and an honor. I am forever grateful to the Sun Devil coaches, my family, teammates, friends and the Sun Devil nation for believing in me. As tough decision’s go, I have made the very difficult decision to transfer from Arizona State University. I wish nothing but good things for Sun Devil Softball. My last two years may bee on a different field and in front of a different crowd but i (sic) will never forget the roar you left in my heart. Until next pitch… G”

Gibson and Juarez are two of the latest Sun Devils to change directions with their collegiate career.

Ulufa “Fa” Leilua left ASU partway through the 2018 season and is now a part of the program at Mississippi State. Pitcher Alyssa Loza joins Leilua at Mississippi State, while Randi Farricker, Ashley Moss and Briana “Breezy” Wise have all left as well this offseason.

Farricker is currently listed on the roster at North Carolina State, while Wise is on the 2019 roster at Long Beach State.

The loss of Juarez and Gibson are both significant losses for the program, possibly the most significant losses possible, as each were expected to play significant roles for a team trying to return to the Women’s College World Series after entering as the No. 8 seed in 2018.

Additionally, both players played in recent fall games with ASU softball, with pictures of them in uniform being posted as recently as last week.

Juarez, the ace of the pitching staff in 2018, went 26-6 for ASU in her sophomore season. She limited opponents to a 1.22 ERA over 224.1 innings, with 305 strikeouts in 37 games. With the graduation of seniors Breanna Macha and Dale Ryndak, she was expected to lead the program’s pitching staff in 2019.

The Glendale, Arizona native played for the United States Junior Women’s National Team through the Summer of 2017 and pitched for Puerto Rico during the 2018 summer. The left-hander had been committed to Fresno State, but de-committed to join head coach Trisha Ford when she accepted a position at Arizona State.

She was the 25th First-Team All-America honoree in the history of ASU softball, was a Top 10 finalist for USA Collegiate Softball’s 2018 Player of the Year award and earned All Region and all Pac-12 First Team and Honors when the the 2018 regular season concluded.

Only a freshman, Gibson hit .343 in 59 games in 2018 with a team-leading 12 home runs and second-best 39 runs batted in. She was also ssecond in the team in on-base percentage (.417) and slugging percentage (.633). These accolades led to her being named to not only the the All-Pac-12 Freshman Team, but the All Pac-12 First Team as well.

Leilua led ASU in batting average as a freshman in 2016, hitting .368 with six home runs. She tied for the team lead in home runs with 13 as a sophomore in 2017, but saw playing time reduced in 2018 before leaving the program.

Loza saw limited playing time in the circle over her two seasons in Tempe, pitching 48 innings with 37 strikeouts and a 1.17 ERA. In 2018, she pitched to a 2-0 record and 0.58 ERA, but only totaled 12 innings over six games. The departure of both Juarez and Loza means the the Sun Devils return no pitchers in 2019 from the previous season.

Farricker hit .208 in 38 games and 72 at-bats for ASU in 2017, but did not play due to injury in 2018. Moss was limited to mostly pinch running duties as a freshman in 2018, scoring 13 runs over 33 games, but not recording a hit in three at-bats. Wise recorded two hits in eight at-bats in 2018, scored five runs and drove in two, including on a home run. She hit .263 as a freshman in 2017 over 24 games.

UPDATE: Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018

Juarez announced in another Twitter post that she has decided to transfer to the University of Oklahoma.

Oklahoma was one of four schools that beat ASU more than once last season and the team that eliminated the Sun Devils from the Women’s College World Series, a 2-0 loss on June 2, 2018. It was also the only school the Devils played more than once and could not win at least one game against.

The Sooners have won three of the last six WCWS championships, including the title in 2016 and 2017.

Gibson was recruited to play at Oklahoma out of high school, but still has not announced where she intends to continue her collegiate career.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

Want to reach the reporter? Send tips, suggestions or comments to nbadders@asu.edu or @BadderUpSports.

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