Kaylan Yoder

Liberty Athletics Softball Media Day on November 29th, 2023. (Photo by Cassidy Paxton)

Class:
Freshman
Bats/Throws:
R/L
Height:
5-5
Hometown:
Greenwood, Del.
Position:
P
Prev School:
Delmarva Christian HS

2025 (So.)

Appeared in 23 games, starting 17 times
CUSA All-Conference second team
CUSA Pitcher of the Week (April 14)
NFCA All-Mideast Region third team, the first Liberty freshman pitcher to be named All-Region
Posted a 9-6 record with a 2.62 ERA, three complete games, one shutout, one save, 65 walks, 80 strikeouts and a .202 opponents’ batting average in 85 1/3 innings
In conference play, went 7-2 with a 1.99 ERA, one shutout, 30 walks, 57 strikeouts and a .178 opponents’ batting average in 52 2/3 innings
Tied for the CUSA lead in overall opponents’ batting average (.202) while ranking fourth in ERA (2.62); ranked second in both conference-only opponents’ batting average (.178) and ERA (1.99)
Earned her first win of the season against Charlotte (Feb.14), allowing one run in 4 1/3 no-hit relief innings, walking six and fanning three
Struck out a career-high 11 batters in 3-2 win over Kennesaw State (March 8), yielding two runs on five hits with five walks
In very next outing, tossed 6 2/3 innings of shutout relief at WKU (March 14), with her 10 strikeouts being the most by a Liberty reliever in program history
Allowed just two hits in complete-game 2-1 win over UTEP (March 29)
Pitched five-inning two-hit shutout at NM State (April 12), walking three and striking out five
Earned win against FIU (May 4), allowing one hit and three walks while striking out four in 5 1/3 innings
Closed out the biggest win in program history with a five-out save in the “if-necessary” game at the NCAA Bryan-College Station Regional (May 18), striking out Texas A&M’s Kramer Eschete with two on and two out to clinch Liberty’s 6-5 win and the Lady Flames’ first-ever trip to the Super Regionals

2024 (Fr.)

Appeared in 37 games, starting 24 times
NFCA All-Mideast Region third team, the first Liberty freshman pitcher to be named All-Region
CUSA All-Conference first team
CUSA All-Freshman Team
CUSA Pitcher of the Week (April 1)
CUSA Freshman of the Week (Feb. 26, April 15)
For the season, went 11-9 with a 2.99 ERA, nine complete games, five shutouts, three saves, 63 walks, 138 strikeouts at a .216 opponents batting average in 138 1/3 innings
In conference play, went 7-1 with a 1.67 ERA, four shutouts, 24 walks, 71 strikeouts and a .190 opponents batting average
Led the CUSA in opponents batting average and strikeouts overall, also leading CUSA in conference-only opponents batting average
Went 6-1 with a 0.60 ERA in eight Conference USA series openers
Earned first career win against Penn State (Feb. 23), allowing one run on two hits, walking one and fanning seven
Struck out 10 batters in four innings against Morgan State (Feb. 25), becoming the first Liberty freshman since 2016 with double-digit strikeouts in a game
Tossed first career shutout, March 15 versus Jacksonville State, a four-hitter during which she struck out five and became the first Liberty freshman pitcher since 2018 with a shutout
Posted a stretch of 18 1/3 consecutive innings of shutout softball, March 26 through April 5, a stretch that included two shutouts of Louisiana Tech
One-hit Louisiana Tech (March 28), striking out eight, before tossing two-hitter two days later in series finale while also fanning eight
Had back-to-back Friday starts (April 5 versus WKU, April 12 at Middle Tennessee) during which she allowed only one run (unearned) in each game
Earned wins over nationally-ranked Penn State (Feb. 23) and Charlotte (March 20)
Shut out Louisiana Tech for the third time on the season, as her three-hit, seven-strikeout effort advanced Liberty to the CUSA Softball Championship semifinal
Drew the start in CUSA Softball Championship final and in second game of NCAA Athens Regional, at No. 10 Georgia

Prep

Graduated from Delmarva Christian High School
2023 Gatorade Delaware State Player of the Year
As a senior, posted a 0.635 ERA, striking out 316 batters in 132 1/3 innings pitched, also batting .517 with a 1.606 OPS
Also played varsity basketball and volleyball
Played travel softball with TNT Delaware Bomhardt and Green Hornets Gold

Personal

Daughter of Steven and Rebecca Yoder
Sister-in-law, Hannah Rust, pitched at Delaware
Majoring in psychology
Birthday is May 26

Student-Athlete Q&A
What made Liberty University the right place for you to attend college/compete at the collegiate level?
It's an environment that I knew I could thrive in. The location, the coaches and spiritual atmosphere was the draw for me.

Is there anything special you do pregame or postgame and why?
I have a routine that consists of the same exact thing when I know I'm starting. NOT to be confused with superstitions. I read a mindset book and pray.

Who in your life inspires you and why are they such an inspiration?
Some older athletes that I have met. They are where I want to be and have shown me it’s not impossible to get there.

What is your most memorable athletic moment/accomplishment?
When I got to be a part of making history for our sport and Liberty Softball at Texas A&M.

If you picked your jersey/uniform number, why is that number important to you?
I wore No. 20 in high school

Do you have any relatives who are playing or have played college or professional sports? (Names, relation to you, what/where they played)?
Yes, my brother’s wife Hannah Rust (Yoder) played softball at the University of Delaware. She was a pitcher.

Favorite meal (breakfast/lunch/dinner) and what is that special meal?
Either breakfast or dinner. For breakfast 2 eggs over easy with toast and sweet potato. For dinner probably chipotle.

What is the first app you check on your phone each day?
Whoop.

What is your favorite hobby outside of athletics?
Reading or art.

Who was your favorite athlete growing up?
Shay Knighten or Steph Curry

What is your favorite possession and why?
My Bible and journal.

What is your Go-To karaoke song?
Stay by Rihanna

What is your dream vacation spot and why?
Brazil. The culture just seems interesting.