Cullowhee, N.C. – Ahead of the start of the fall 2025 semester, Western Carolina softball head coach Jim Clift announced the addition of nine freshmen set to join the Catamount program for the 2026 season.
Pitcher Amari Burce (Lula, Ga.), pitcher/infielder Briony Bunsic (Morristown, Tenn.), infielder Sydnee Bumgarner (Granite Falls, N.C.), outfielder Emily Murphy (Mooresville, N.C.), infielder Kayden Lyda (Fletcher, N.C.), outfielder Natalie Regan (Greer, S.C.), infielder Kimber Shambley (Durham, N.C.), outfielder/infielder Emma Kindle (Tampa, Fla.) and catcher Autumn Russell (Blue Ridge, Va.) are each set to join the Catamounts with their debuts slated for spring 2026.
"These nine freshmen bring a dynamic mix of talent, versatility, and competitive spirit to our team. Each player offers unique strengths—whether it's power at the plate, strong defense, speed, or leadership—and together they'll make a big impact on our program's future," said Clift.
Amari Burce – 5-5 – Pitcher – Lula, Ga. / East Hall HS
Burce comes to Cullowhee following a four-year prep career at East Hall High. She carried a .384 career batting average, to accompany a 2.61 ERA in the circle in her high school career. Burce posted a .500 batting average as a junior and hit .415 in her senior campaign. During her senior year, Burce tallied first-team All-region honors along with second-team All-state recognition. Burce also garnered offense and pitching awards along with her team's MVP award.
As a junior, Burce received the NFCA Scholar Athlete Award along with first-team All-region plaudits. Off the diamond, she was a two-sport athlete competing in track and field, where she earned Freshman of the Year honors, and was a four-year varsity letterwinner for East Hall's basketball program.
Clift on Burce:
"Amari brings a strong arm that really helps round out our bullpen and gives us added depth in the circle. She's a strong defensive pitcher with great upside, and we're excited to see her compete and grow at the college level."
Briony Bunsic – 5-7 – Pitcher/Infield – Morristown, Tenn. / Morristown Hamblen West HS
Bunsic arrives in Cullowhee after completing a successful prep career at Morristown Hamblen West High. The two-way standout finished her high school tenure with a .453 batting average from the leadoff spot, legging out seven triples and stealing 18 bases. She also dominated in the circle with 12 wins and 184 strikeouts. During her high school career, she totaled a school record 816 strikeouts and set the school high mark for wins.
Bunsic earned Player of the Year accolades all four years and was thrice named Pitcher of the Year. She also collected the Lakeway Player of the Year multiple times in her prep career. Bunsic was a part of four conference championships and three district tournament titles. She set a freshman record in the circle, tallying 206 strikeouts.
Clift on Bunsic:
"Briony will be a solid presence in the circle for us this season and comes in with a stellar resume. She also has both average and power at the plate, and her ability to play multiple positions makes her a valuable all-around player."
Kimber Shambley – 5-3 – Infield – Durham, N.C. / Cedar Ridge HS
Shambley finished her prep career with a .427 batting average that included batting .449 as a junior and carrying a .452 batting average in her senior campaign. In her 89 career games, she recorded 112 hits and 105 RBI, and hit 16 home runs. Shambley closed her career receiving honorable mention All-state recognition, joined by fellow freshman Kayden Lyda, Emily Murphy, and Sydnee Bumgarner in North Carolina, who were each mentioned throughout the list of honorees.
Shambley's high school career saw her post a 1.303 on-base percentage plus slugging percentage. She was a two-time all-conference honoree, in addition to being named an all-district and all-state recipient as a junior. Beginning in her sophomore season, Shambley was a three-time captain for Cedar Ridge High. Off the diamond, she was the overall top female at Cedar Ridge for weightlifting with a 325 lbs. deadlift, along with a 280 lbs. squat.
Clift on Shambley:
"Kimber Shambley brings a lot of power to the plate and can change the game with one swing. She's also a great defensive first baseman who adds stability and strength to our infield."
Kayden Lyda – 5-4 – Infield – Fletcher, N.C. / West Henderson HS
Lyda hit above .400 in three of her four seasons as a prep, including a high mark of .508 as a junior, which featured a .934 slugging percentage. She totaled 59 steals over her time at West Henderson High with a career-best 20 as a sophomore. Lyda was a multi-time all-conference honoree while garnering all-district honors throughout her prep career.
As a junior, Lyda received 3A State Player of the Year honors, while also being named Mount 7 Conference Player of the Year as a senior. In the classroom, Lyda received All-American Scholar honors throughout her high school tenure. Lyda closed her career by receiving honorable mention All-state recognition, joined by fellow WCU freshmen Kimber Shambley, Emily Murphy, and Sydnee Bumgarner in North Carolina, who were also mentioned throughout the list of honorees.
Outside of Softball, Lyda was a four-time all-conference honoree on the basketball court, including earning Defensive Player of the Year in 2025, as she pulled down over 700 career rebounds. Lyda's older brother Jackson is a member of the Western Carolina baseball program.
Clift on Lyda:
"Kayden swings a great bat and is a dynamic hitter. She brings high energy and grit every time she steps on the field, and her athleticism gives her the ability to play multiple positions confidently."
Autumn Russell – 5-8 – Catcher – Blue Ridge, Va. / Lord Botetourt HS
The freshman backstop comes to Cullowhee after a four-year prep career at Lord Botetourt High in Virginia. Russell compiled a .410 batting average in her prep career, with an impressive 1.066 on-base plus slugging percentage over her four years. She accumulated 104 hits throughout her four seasons. The Blue Ridge, Va. native stepped up her offensive production as a junior, posting a .565 batting average and knocking in 27 runs, followed by a .473 average, five homers, and a 1.415 OPS as a senior.
Following both her junior and senior seasons, Russell was named Blue Ridge Player of the Year and was a first-team all-conference and all-region honoree. She also garnered second-team All-state from Virginia. As a freshman, Russell was part of a program that was district champions, Region III D champions, and the 3A Virginia State runners-up.
Russell's father, Richard, was a former student-athlete who played football at Concord University, where he wore number 75, the same number Russell will wear for the Catamounts. Russell's cousin Zack Kelly is in his fourth year as a reliever in the Boston Red Sox bullpen.
Clift on Russell:
"Autumn is a true leader behind the plate with strong defensive skills as a catcher. She also brings a power bat to the lineup and has the potential to drive in big runs for us."
Emma Kindle – 5-4 – Infield/Outfield – Tampa, Fla. / George M. Steinbrenner HS
Out of South Florida, Kindle had a four-year prep career in Tampa. She recorded a .310 batting average with 38 stolen bases in her high school career, achieving an impressive .348 average as a senior.
Kindle swiped double-digit bases in three of her four prep seasons. She was a two-time first-team Western Conference selection and earned the defensive award as a junior. She also garnered the Heart of a Champion and Warrior Award during her senior season.
Emma's grandfather, Andy, spent 24 combined years working as a TV sports producer for CBS Sports and Fox Sports, earning multiple Emmys for his work on both networks.
Clift on Kindle:
"Emma Kindle is a versatile defender who can play just about anywhere on the field and brings dynamic speed to our lineup. We're excited to see how her athleticism translates at the plate and the impact she can make offensively."
Emily Murphy – 5-8 – Outfield/Utility – Mooresville, N.C. / Mooresville HS
Murphy earned all-conference plaudits each of her four years and all-district honors in three seasons. In the final two years of her prep career, Murphy totaled a .400 average as a junior and a .432 average as a senior. She closed her career by receiving North Carolina honorable mention All-state recognition, joined by fellow WCU freshmen Kimber Shambley, Kayden Lyda, and Sydnee Bumgarner, who each were also mentioned throughout the list of honorees.
Clift on Murphy:
"Emily brings power and athleticism to the plate, making her a serious offensive threat. She's a great outfielder who can also play multiple other positions, providing valuable versatility and depth to our defense."
Sydnee Bumgarner – 5-5 – Infielder – Granite Falls, N.C. / South Caldwell HS
Staying in-state, Bumgarner concluded her high school career at South Caldwell High, where she finished with a bang, posting a .464 batting average as a senior with 51 runs scored, 13 homers, and 44 RBIs. Through her prep career, Bumgarner totaled 100 starts at shortstop with 124 base hits, including 36 career doubles and 21 home runs, while amassing 126 career RBI. She was a four-time all-conference recipient, along with three times earning all-district honors, and a two-time all-state award winner. During her junior season, she received the Hot Stove Rising Star Award.
Bumgarner was a part of conference championships all four years she was at South Caldwell, along with a 4A Regional title and 4A N.C. State Championships as a senior. She closed her career receiving second-team all-state recognition, joined by fellow freshmen Kimber Shambley, Kayden Lyda, and Emily Murphy, who each were mentioned throughout the list of honorees.
Off the diamond, Bumgarner was a four-year letterwinner in volleyball with a pair of all-conference honors and was named the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year in her league. She broke five school records in her volleyball career.
Clift on Bumgarner:
"Sydnee is a stellar defensive player who brings consistency and athleticism to the field. She hits for both power and average, and her solid speed makes her a threat on both sides of the ball."
Natalie Regan – 5-4 – Outfield – Greenville, S.C. /Riverside HS
Regan rounds out a first-year class as she comes to Cullowhee by way of Riverside High School. She finished her prep career with a .463 career batting average, including an eye-popping .611 average as a junior, slugging 1.222. She garnered all-region honors in all four years and received all-state recognition as a junior. Regan was twice named to the Greer All-Area first-team, while also receiving the Best Offensive Player award on multiple occasions.
As a senior, Regan was named to the Greenville News Upstate's Top Softball Players of the regular season. She also played varsity high school softball as an eighth-grader, totaling a .556 average. She was a part of an undefeated regional champion team as a junior. She received the Warrior Award from Riverside volleyball during her prep career.
Clift on Regan:
"Natalie Regan is a great defensive outfielder with excellent instincts and range. She brings another strong lefty bat to the lineup and hits for average, adding valuable balance to our offense."
