ATHENS, Ga. – University of Georgia head softball coach Tony Baldwin has announced the addition of transfers Lilli Backes, Rachel Gibson, and Sarah Gordon for the 2024 season.
Backes, a left-handed pitcher from North Carolina, and Gibson, a right-handed pitcher from Clemson, will each have two years of eligibility while Gordon, a catcher/utility from Louisville, will have three seasons.
“We are very excited to welcome Lilli, Rachel, and Sarah to Georgia Softball,” Baldwin said. “First and foremost, they are really good people and excellent students. They are also really good competitors!
Baldwin continued,
“With the three high school players and the three transfers that we have added, we believe our roster has improved and we are excited to get to work for the 2024 season.
“It takes an army to pull off all the recruiting that we do. I want to give special thanks to our coaching staff, Stephanie Ransom our sport administrator, Glada Horvat and Rhonda Kilpatrick in administration, Morgan Kent in academic services, Brandon Hummer in strength & conditioning, Sloan Vlahos in nutrition, Lijah Galas and Tony Walsh in creative services, and Sean Stevenson in sports communications. Without their commitment and time, none of this would be possible. Go Dawgs!”
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Here’s a detailed look at each of the Bulldog additions…
Lilli Backes | LHP | 5-5 | Peachtree City, Ga. | North Carolina | Starr’s Mill HS
A native a Peachtree City, Georgia, Lilli Backes will return to her home state to pitch for the Bulldogs. Backes was a 2023 All-ACC Second Team and All-ACC Tournament Team honoree. She made 39 appearances, leading the Tar Heels with a 2.79 ERA in 180.2 innings of work. She fanned 156 opponents. She concluded the 2023 campaign with a 16-14 record, going the distance in 15 outings. In ACC play, Backes went 11-4 with a 2.15 ERA, throwing eight complete games and four shutouts.
As a freshman, Backes pitched in 31 games, starting 21. She led the team with 114.2 innings pitched with 95 strikeouts. She pitched five complete games and earned eight wins.
Backes was a four-year letter winner at Starr’s Mill High School in Fayetteville, Georgia. A three-time region pitcher of the year and three-time first team all-state selection, Backes finished her high school career with 912 career strikeouts. As a junior and a senior, she was named the 5A and Region Pitcher of the Year and led her team to a 2021 Region 2-AAAAA State Championship title. She graduated early in December 2021 to enroll at UNC. She played for Georgia Impact.
Lilli is the daughter of Chris and Laura Backes. She has one older brother, Nicholas.
Baldwin on Backes:
“In today’s game, you must have versatility and variation in your pitching staff. Lilli brings that to our team as a left-handed pitcher. She is a tough competitor and that has been well coached. We look forward to her continued development and making an impact on our pitching staff.”
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Rachel Gibson | RHP | 5-9 | Ringgold, Ga. | Clemson | Heritage HS
Rachel Gibson returns to her home state to don the Red & Black after two seasons at Clemson. The right-handed pitcher saw limited action in the circle in two seasons with the Tigers, making a pair of appearances in the circle and three as a pinch runner. Entering her freshman campaign in 2022, Gibson was tabbed a Top 75 Impact Freshman by D1Softball.com.
During her prep career at Heritage High School in Ringgold, Gibson was a two-time GHSA 4A Pitcher of the Year (2018, 2019) leading her squad to back-to-back GHSA 4A State Championships in the same seasons. Twice she was tabbed Best of Preps Softball Player of the Year (2018, 2019) and was the 2019 Georgia Dugout Club 4A Player of the Year.
Rachel is the daughter of Kat and Clint Gibson. She has an older brother, Lee, who played baseball at Troy University.
Baldwin on Gibson:
“Rachel will strengthen our pitching staff. She is explosive and has a very live arm. We believe her potential is through the roof! We are excited to add her to our group as we believe her best days are ahead of her.”
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Sarah Gordon | C/UT | 5-6 | Lexington, S.C. | Louisville | Lexington HS
Sarah Gordon transfers to Georgia from Louisville where she had a breakout rookie season. She was recognized by D1Softball on its Freshman All-America Team, named Third Team All-America by Softball America, and was named NFCA All-Southeast Region second team. She was tabbed the 2023 ACC Freshman of the Year while earning First Team All-ACC and ACC All-Freshman Team accolades. Additionally, Gordon was one of 25 on the TUCCI/NFCA Freshman of the Year list.
Gordon started all 56 games for the Cardinals at catcher, first base, or as the designated player as a freshman. She hit .379, finishing second on the team with 66 hits, 41 runs, and 49 RBI. She hit a team high 12 doubles and hit the third-most home runs on the team with 12. She registered 20 multi-hit games and led the team with 14 multi-RBI performances. On the base paths, she was a perfect 8-for-8.
In her prep career, Gordon was a two-time all-state and three-time all-region performer at Lexington High School in South Carolina. She was named the 2022 South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year and was on the All-American Futures watch list. In 2021, Gordon was the 5A Region Player of the Year, All-Chronicle Co-Player of the Year, and team MVP as she led her team to a regional championship. In her junior campaign, she posted a .495 batting average with a .552 on-base and 1.066 slugging percentage. She guided her team to a 2019 5A state title. She also played for the Louisville Lady Sluggers.
Sarah is the daughter of Tony and Donna Gordon. She has a twin brother, Ryan, and an older brother, Gavin.
Baldwin on Gordon:
“Sarah is a softball player! Her competitiveness and versatility fit very well with what we look for in student-athletes. She will certainly provide competition at the catching position, but her versatility will give us other options as well. Her bat is her calling card, and we look forward to adding her into our offensive group.”
