The transfer portal is just getting going for spring sports with Virginia Tech Softball making a splash in landing Indiana ace Sophie Kleiman.
Go Hokies!!! @HokiesSoftball pic.twitter.com/853VUC8L0n
— Sophie Kleiman (@kleiman_sophie) June 18, 2024
Kleiman led the Hoosiers' pitching staff this past season appearing in 41 including 23 starts with three complete games (one shutout), a 14-5 record, 2.69 ERA, and .245 opponents' batting average. She also had 87 strikeouts and 53 walks over the course of 130 innings this season. She has two years of eligibility remaining plus a redshirt year.
Kleiman provides a major boost to Virginia Tech's pitching rotation after losing Lyndsey Grein to the transfer portal where she has since transferred to Oregon. Tech won't need her to be a front-end starting pitcher for them with Emma Lemley back to lead this staff in 2024.
Kleiman was one of the better pitchers in the Big 10 this past season ranking eighth in ERA among those eligible. She also showed plenty of versatility with 18 appearances out of the bullpen last season including two saves for the Hoosiers.
She'll battle rising sophomore Emma Mazzarone for that #2 starting pitcher role after Mazzarone had a promising freshman season pitching 71 innings over the course of 25 (13 games) with a 9-3 record, 3.35 ERA, 65 strikeouts, 35 walks, and a .209 opponents' batting average. Even if Kleiman weren't to be the #2 starter, she could slide into a hybrid starter/ace reliever type role for the Hokies with Cassie Grizzard providing further depth as the fourth starter/bullpen option.
It also helps that Kleiman has two years of eligibility and will be a pitcher that the Hokies can continue to build their pitching staff around along with Mazzarone.
The Hokies are looking to build towards a deeper run in the 2025 NCAA Softball Tournament, with Indiana ace Sophie Kleiman strengthening the Hokies' pitching staff.
