SAN ANTONIO – Head UTSA softball coach Vann Stuedeman officially announced a trio of signees on Thursday, with Lauren Byrd, Peyton Clifford and Karlie Beth Beasley all joining the program.
Lauren Byrd | 5-5 | C/UTL | R/R | Acworth, Ga. | North Cobb HS | Queens University
Byrd heads to UTSA after her sophomore season at Queens University, where she posted a .299 batting average with 40 hits, 10 doubles, two home runs and a triple. She was issued 26 walks and recorded 13 RBIs while scoring herself 109 times. Highlights from the 2026 campaign included a four-hit game against West Georgia on March 22 and a three-run game against Presbyterian on March 3.
In 2025, she was named to the ASUN All-Freshman team after making 53 appearances with 45 starts, hitting .263 with 34 hits, 23 RBIs, and 10 home runs.
A 2024 graduate of North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, Georgia, Byrd got the job done in the classroom with a 4.4 GPA and was ranked 17th in her graduating class. She was a 2023 All-County selection, helping the Warriors finish third in the state following a regional championship. North Cobb made the Sweet 16 and was regional runner-up in 2022. Additionally, Byrd lettered in flag football at her high school, and she clubbed with Athletics Gold Tamborra.
She is the daughter of Tonya and Lewis Byrd, and she has a sister, Leah. At UTSA, she will study health sciences with the goal of becoming a physician assistant, and she is a member of the Black Student Union.
Head Coach Vann Stuedeman on Byrd:
“We’re excited to have Lauren on our squad! She’s a fearless competitor who plays the game fast and with purpose. She’s competitive and has a real desire to improve the program in any way she can. We’re excited to get her on the field and see what the season has in store for her.”
Peyton Clifford | 5-5 | INF | R/R | Scottsdale, Ariz. | Chaparral HS | Pacific
A middle infielder from The Copper State, Clifford makes her way to San Antonio as the No. 29 ranked player in the portal by USA Today. She’ll have two years of eligibility with the ‘Runners, fresh off a sophomore season that saw her start all but one game for Pacific. She worked a .274 batting average with 37 hits, eight doubles, 17 RBIs and 17 runs scored. Clifford was sensational with three hits and four RBIs in a win over Oregon State on April 11, and she was a West Coast Conference All-Academic honorable mention.
Her freshman season saw her named to the WCC All-Freshman squad after making 44 starts with a .257 batting average, 28 hits and 15 RBIs.
A standout at Chaparral High School, she was a four-year starter for the Firebirds. She posted a stellar .667 batting average, earning Defensive Player of the Year honors, and was named the team’s Most Valuable Player.
She is the daughter of Wendy and Todd Clifford, and has a brother, Patrick. At UTSA, she will study psychology with the goal of becoming a sports psychiatrist.
Head Coach Vann Stuedeman on Clifford:
"We are pumped to have Peyton join the team! She’s a strong middle infielder with quick feet plays with passion. Her game experience and softball IQ made her a great fit for the Roadrunners and we’re excited for the fans to see what she can do.”
Karlie Beth Beasley | 5-8 | RHP | R/R | Tuscaloosa, Ala. | Tuscaloosa County HS | Shelton State CC
Beasley dominated in the Alabama Community College Conference, earning All-Conference honors and finishing in the top three on the league leaderboard with a 2.18 ERA. She twirled 129 strikeouts, becoming the fastest player in Shelton State Community College history to reach 100 strikeouts. She’ll have four seasons of eligibility entering the 2027 campaign.
She attended Tuscaloosa County High School in Northport, Alabama, where she had a sensational senior season with a 1.84 ERA and 156 strikeouts. Those numbers landed her on the ASWA First-Team All-State squad, and she was also Tuscaloosa News Player of the Year, a Super 9 Team selection, and the AHSAA Radio Player of the Year. Beasley propelled the Wildcats to a runner-up finish at the state championships, and 42 wins were the most in program history. Additionally, she clubbed with Sparks Elite 2024.
Beasley is the daughter of Ginger and Shane Beasley, and she has a sister, Isabella. At UTSA, she will study medical humanities, and she plans to go into nursing.
Head Coach Vann Stuedeman on Beasley:
“We’re excited to add Karlie Beth to the team! She brings incredible energy and a relentless mindset to the squad. She’s a proven winner, and her passion for the game set her apart during the recruiting process. She’s the kind of player who will do whatever it takes to improve and continue building the future of UTSA softball. We can’t wait to get her in the bullpen and get to work!
Keep up with UTSA Softball all season long on goUTSA.com, and by following the program on Facebook at /UTSASB, Twitter @UTSASoftball, and on Instagram @utsasoftball.
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