Oregon State Softball Adds Pair of Transfer Catchers
The Beavers will welcome senior Hannah Akamine, who comes to Oregon State from Tennessee, and junior Sammi Noland, who joins the Beavers after spending two seasons at Nebraska.
(CORVALLIS, Ore.) — The Oregon State softball team has added a pair of transfer catchers to its 2015 roster, head coach Laura Berg announced Thursday.
The Beavers will welcome senior Hannah Akamine, who comes to Oregon State from Tennessee, and junior Sammi Noland, who joins the Beavers after spending two seasons at Nebraska.
Akamine was part of the 2013 Tennessee squad that made the Women’s College World Series finals. She’s a career .249 hitter, who boasts an impressive .398 on-base percentage.
“I’m excited for this year,” Akamine said. “I think the team is going to take a big step forward this season. We have made some great additions, and I think there are some very good aspects to this team. People will be excited to see how this year turns out.”
Akamine made 37 starts in 2014, recording 27 RBIs, 13 runs and six extra-base hits. Her season was highlighted by a pair of home runs against Wright State on March 5. Akamine also posted a strong 2013 campaign hitting .285 on the year, including a mark of .308 with runners in scoring position.
She threw out 13 runners trying to steal in that year, while making 53 starts. Akamine recorded a single and two walks against Oklahoma ace Keilani Ricketts in game one of the Championship Series.
“At Tennessee, I got a chance to play in the World Series, and that was really cool,” Akamine said. “I hope to instill the type of passion and drive that we need to make that happen here.”
Noland was known as a great teammate in her time at Nebraska, and is credited with helping their pitching staff find success over the last two seasons, as the Huskers combined for a 1.92 ERA in her sophomore year.
“I’d always heard good things about Oregon State and about coach Berg,” Noland said. “I wanted to get the chance to play for her and for this team, so it was a great opportunity to come out here.”
In her time at Nebraska, Noland served primarily as a backup to Taylor Edwards, one of the nation’s premier catchers and a 2014 First Team All-American. Noland made three starts last season, and posted a .300 on-base percentage.
Like Akamine, Noland comes to Oregon State with postseason experience, as she was part of Nebraska’s 2013 WCWS squad. Off the field, she was named to the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team, which recognizes Nebraska athletes who have completed outstanding community service.
Prior to joining the Huskers, Noland played for Canyon del Oro High School in Tucson, Ariz., where she helped the team to three state championships. She was also part of the 2012 AZ Desert Thunder club team that won ASA Gold National Championship.
“I want to make the program better in my time here,” Noland said. “I want to make the team better, and I want to be a good teammate. I’m going to do everything I can to take us as far as we can go.”
Akamine and Noland join a Beaver team that features a 2014 recruiting class that was ranked third in the nation by StudentSports.com, and includes four of the site’s top 40 recruits.
Source: Oregon State Athletics
