University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Hermanek Adds Outfield Transfer Taylor
12/22/2020 12:41:00 PM | Softball
PITTSBURGH – The University of Pittsburgh head softball coach Jodi Hermanek added her second transfer for the 2021 season today in EC Taylor, a sophomore outfielder from the University of Florida.
EC Taylor, short for Emily Claire, appeared in 16 games last season for the Gators scoring nine runs and finishing tied for third on the team with three stolen bases before the COVID-19 pandemic shut the season down in March.
"EC's talent is an element of what our offensive philosophy is structured around," said Hermanek. "The Panthers need speed in our line-up and EC is that speed, barrel control and chaos from the left side. She's a next-level athlete and her competitive goals align with ours and she knows what championship caliber commitment is all about. EC's character is a match to the quality of personnel we have in our locker room."
The Marion, Ark., native stole two bases against Jacksonville on Feb. 19 and scored her first collegiate run against Georgia State on Feb. 9. She also batted .400 during the 2019 fall season for Florida, going 2-for-5 with two walks, an RBI and four runs scored with three stolen bases.
Taylor attended high school at Saint Benedict at Auburndale where she was a standout player for the Lady Eagles, totaling a career .534 batting average and 169 career stolen bases. Taylor made an immediate impact as a freshman, batting .513 for the season with 37 stolen bags. She swiped a career-best and school record 62 bases her sophomore season and batted a career-high .559 her junior year.
Taylor earned multiple accolades throughout her time at Saint Benedict at Auburndale, receiving Commercial Appeal All-Metro Team four times, TSSAA Division II Class AA All-Region Team three times, TSSAA Division II Class AA All-Region MVP twice and was named to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Division II All-State her freshman year.
She played club ball for the Birmingham Thunderbolts and helped the team win two championships, including the 2018 Triple Crown Sports Colorado Fireworks 16U Championship and the 2018 PGF 16U National Championship. Taylor was also a 2019 PGF All-American Game Team East Member.
Taylor joins sophomore Bailey Drapola as transfers who have joined Pitt during the 2020-21 academic year. Drapola played for Akron in 2019-20 before joining the Panthers in August of this year. Taylor will be immediately eligible to play for Pitt this spring season and has four years of eligibility left due to the NCAA giving all 2020 spring athletes an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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EC Taylor, short for Emily Claire, appeared in 16 games last season for the Gators scoring nine runs and finishing tied for third on the team with three stolen bases before the COVID-19 pandemic shut the season down in March.
"EC's talent is an element of what our offensive philosophy is structured around," said Hermanek. "The Panthers need speed in our line-up and EC is that speed, barrel control and chaos from the left side. She's a next-level athlete and her competitive goals align with ours and she knows what championship caliber commitment is all about. EC's character is a match to the quality of personnel we have in our locker room."
The Marion, Ark., native stole two bases against Jacksonville on Feb. 19 and scored her first collegiate run against Georgia State on Feb. 9. She also batted .400 during the 2019 fall season for Florida, going 2-for-5 with two walks, an RBI and four runs scored with three stolen bases.
Taylor attended high school at Saint Benedict at Auburndale where she was a standout player for the Lady Eagles, totaling a career .534 batting average and 169 career stolen bases. Taylor made an immediate impact as a freshman, batting .513 for the season with 37 stolen bags. She swiped a career-best and school record 62 bases her sophomore season and batted a career-high .559 her junior year.
Taylor earned multiple accolades throughout her time at Saint Benedict at Auburndale, receiving Commercial Appeal All-Metro Team four times, TSSAA Division II Class AA All-Region Team three times, TSSAA Division II Class AA All-Region MVP twice and was named to the Tennessee Sports Writers Association Division II All-State her freshman year.
She played club ball for the Birmingham Thunderbolts and helped the team win two championships, including the 2018 Triple Crown Sports Colorado Fireworks 16U Championship and the 2018 PGF 16U National Championship. Taylor was also a 2019 PGF All-American Game Team East Member.
Taylor joins sophomore Bailey Drapola as transfers who have joined Pitt during the 2020-21 academic year. Drapola played for Akron in 2019-20 before joining the Panthers in August of this year. Taylor will be immediately eligible to play for Pitt this spring season and has four years of eligibility left due to the NCAA giving all 2020 spring athletes an extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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