University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Add Five Transfers to 2027 Roster
8/27/2026 11:01:00 AM | Softball
MINNEAPOLIS – University of Minnesota softball head coach Gretta Melsted has announced the addition of five transfer student-athletes to the Gophers' roster. Alyssa Rangel, Riley Baber, Daphne Evans, Kasey Wood and Sophia Vlahos will join Minnesota ahead of the 2027 season.
"We are very excited to welcome five new Gophers," said Coach Melsted. "In this class we have a little bit of everything. We have pitching, strong defense, speed, and power at the plate. Each one of these student-athletes brings athleticism and competitiveness to the table. I'm looking forward to them marking their mark on Gopher Softball."
Alyssa Rangel | Sophomore | Pitcher/Outfielder | San Antonio, Texas | George Mason
Rangel comes to Minnesota after one season at George Mason, where she appeared in 22 games and made seven starts in the circle as a freshman. The San Antonio, Texas, native posted a 3.28 ERA across 53.1 innings while striking out 39 batters and holding opponents to a .251 batting average. She finished the season with a 4-7 record.
A two-way player, Rangel also saw action at the plate, batting .273 with three RBI in 11 at-bats.
Prior to her collegiate career, Rangel was a four-year varsity softball letterwinner at Taft High School. She was named Pitcher of the Year in 2024-25 and earned multiple All-District and tournament honors throughout her career. Rangel finished her high school career with 747 strikeouts and a 2.15 ERA in the circle while also batting .480 with 170 career hits.
Daughter of Shanna and Gregory Rangel, She plans to major in forensic science at Minnesota. She has one sibling, Alexis.
Riley Baber | Junior | Infielder | Overland Park, Kan. | Missouri State
Baber joins the Gophers following two standout seasons at Missouri State, where she developed into one of the Bears' top offensive contributors.
As a sophomore in 2026, Baber started all 49 games at first base and batted .348 with 47 hits, 25 runs, 21 RBI, 16 doubles and four home runs. Her 16 doubles were the second-most in a single season in program history, while she ranked among the nation's leaders in doubles. Baber also posted a .983 fielding percentage and helped anchor a Missouri State defense that set a program record with 23 double plays.
She recorded a team-best 11 multi-hit games and put together a nine-game hitting streak during the season. Baber also delivered several standout performances, including a three-run home run in an upset victory over No. 25 Ole Miss and a three-hit, two-extra-base-hit performance at No. 12 Oklahoma State.
Baber made an immediate impact as a freshman in 2025, starting 48 games and batting .278 with 42 hits, 22 RBI, seven doubles and five home runs. Over her first two collegiate seasons, she totaled 89 hits, 43 RBI, 23 doubles and nine home runs.
An accomplished student-athlete, Baber earned NFCA Scholar-Athlete recognition in each of her first two seasons and was named to the 2026 CSC Academic All-District Team, Conference USA All-Academic Team and CUSA Commissioner's Honor Roll.
A native of Overland Park, Kan., Baber was a four-year starter at Blue Valley Southwest High School, where she finished her career as the school's record holder for career RBI and doubles.
Daughter of Sara and Billy Baber, she plans to major in biomedical science at Minnesota. She has two sisters, Presley and Kinley.
Kasey Wood | Senior | Utility | Bentonville, Ark. | Arkansas
Wood arrives at Minnesota after three seasons at Arkansas, where she appeared in 33 games for the Razorbacks and contributed as a versatile utility player.
During her junior season, Wood made 42 appearances in 2026, primarily as a pinch runner. She scored a career-best 18 runs. As a sophomore in 2025, Wood appeared in 31 games, scoring 16 times. She also saw time in the circle during her freshman campaign, making two relief appearances and posting a 0.00 ERA across 1.2 innings.
Before Arkansas, Wood was a two-way standout at Bentonville High School. Ranked No. 36 in Extra Inning Softball's 2023 Extra Elite 100, she helped lead Bentonville to back-to-back Arkansas 6A state championships in 2021 and 2022. As a junior, Wood batted .466 with four home runs, 22 RBI and 39 runs scored while compiling a .581 on-base percentage and .849 slugging percentage. Wood also excelled in the circle, recording 13 wins and 90 strikeouts during her junior season.
Daughter of Trisha and Jeff Wood, she plans to major in kinesiology at Minnesota.
Sophia Vlahos | Sophomore | Pitcher | McKinney, Texas | Mount St. Mary's
Vlahos joins Minnesota after her freshman season at Mount St. Mary's, where she contributed both in the circle and at the plate.
She made nine appearances as a pitcher, including three starts, and earned her first collegiate victory with 1.1 innings of scoreless relief against George Mason. Vlahos also threw a complete game against Dayton.
At the plate, Vlahos batted .250 and recorded her first collegiate hit against UAlbany before driving in a run in a victory at Siena.
A four-year letterwinner at McKinney Boyd High School, Vlahos earned All-District 5-6A honors and was a member of the All-District team in 2025. Over her high school career, she hit .561 with 82 RBI while posting a 1.01 ERA and limiting opponents to a .155 batting average in the circle. Vlahos has also competed with the U22 Greek National Team.
Daughter of Eleni and Nick Vlahos, she plans on majoring in accounting with a minor in pre-law. She has two sisters, Katerina and Anna.
Daphne Evans | Sophomore | Outfielder | Chanhassen, Minn. | Minnesota Duluth
Evans joins the Gophers after a standout freshman campaign at Minnesota Duluth, where she started 54 games for the Bulldogs and earned UMD Female Newcomer of the Year honors.
The Chanhassen, Minn., native batted .337 across 178 at-bats, collecting 60 hits and driving in 39 runs. She recorded 24 extra-base hits while posting a .573 slugging percentage and .419 on-base percentage. Evans also made an impact on the bases, swiping 27 bags, and finished the season with a .943 fielding percentage.
Evans posted a season-high four hits and four RBIs against Newman on Feb. 27 before recording the first multi-home run game of her collegiate career against Bemidji State on April 22, blasting two home runs. She began her collegiate career with 35 hits through her first 19 games, including a 12-game hitting streak from Feb. 18 through March 8.
Evans was named NSIC Player of the Week twice during her freshman season.
Prior to her collegiate career, Evans was a four-year letterwinner at Chanhassen High School from 2022-25 and served as team captain as a senior. She earned All-Conference honors in 2024 and 2025 and was named All-Section in 2022. Evans also received the team's Service to the Team Award in 2024 and 2025 and was named the team's Hottest Hitter in 2024. She capped her high school career as a Senior All-Star in 2025.
Daughter of Amy and Robert Evans, she plans on majoring in Business Marketing and Education with a minor in Spanish. She has two siblings, Phoebe and Robby.