College Transfer News: P/IF Miranda Stoddard Makes Move to Arizona from Kentucky

From the Bluegrass State to the Grand Canyon State, from the lushness and humidity to the dryness and heat of Arizona, pitcher Miranda Stoddard is making the move from the SEC to the Big 12 (soon!) as the Univ. of Arizona softball program has announced her transfer.

At least she’ll have an easy time remembering his college mascot, as she goes from the KU Wildcats to the UA Wildcats.

Way back in November of 2018, Miranda was ranked #28 in the 2019 Extra Elite 100… this is her bio from then:

T-28—Miranda Stoddard, P/UT, Athletics – Mercado/Smith (Kentucky)
Miranda is an excellent athlete and feared two-way player who can bat with impressive power and dominate in the circle with her combination of a screwball, drop curve, change and rise. She gives Dave Mercado’s program three legitimate aces and 2019 Extra Elite 100 hurlers in Miranda, Jenna Bloom (Arkansas) and Lexi Sosa (UCLA). Defensively, she can also play the corners if needed, but her pitching prowess gives Wildcat fans a premier pitcher starting in 2020. This upcoming year will be one of transition for Miranda, who was with Explosion – Denio this past year and after not playing high school as a junior is now at one of the top programs in California, Orange Lutheran High, after going 16-9 with a 1.99 ERA as a sophomore for Canyon (Anaheim, California) High. Miranda committed to Kentucky in September of 2016.

Below is a picture of Miranda when she pitched for Explosion in June of 2019:

Here is the press release issued on Monday (Aug. 21, 2023) by the Arizona softball SID…

*****

TUCSON, Ariz. – Arizona announced the addition of Miranda Stoddard to the 2024 roster. Stoddard is a graduate transfer from Kentucky and has two years of eligibility.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Miranda to our team this year,” said head coach Caitlin Lowe. “As a true utility player, she has a lot of experience playing against top competition and will add a great deal of depth and experience to our pitching staff while also being able to play the infield and hit.”

During her career at Kentucky, Stoddard held an 11-4 record with a 3.56 career ERA across 141.2 innings pitched.

𝑺𝑰𝑮𝑵𝑬𝑫 ✍️

Miranda Stoddard
» P/INF
» Anaheim, Calif.
» Kentucky

Welcome to Arizona, Miranda! pic.twitter.com/hM5I3f2ybY

— Arizona Softball (@ArizonaSoftball) August 21, 2023

In the 2021 season, she went 5-0 with a 3.17 ERA with wins against Campbell, Florida Atlantic, Coastal Carolina, and Eastern Kentucky. She also played third base at Kentucky.

Stoddard held a career .240 batting average at Kentucky. She totaled 69 hits, 13 doubles, and 18 home runs while driving in 67 RBI in her three seasons in Lexington.

Stoddard will join five incoming freshman in addition to Arizona’s 14 returning players for the 2024 season.

Click HERE to see the Wildcats’ roster for 2024.