The University of Florida softball program announced Thursday morning that junior outfielder Jade Caraway has transferred out from NC State and to the Gators.

Caraway’s exit follows the firing of former NC State softball head coach Shawn Rychcik.

Following a record-breaking freshman season, Caraway had a bit of a down year in 2018, hitting .255 with just 11 extra-base hits and 12 RBIs.

In 2017, Caraway set NC State single-season records in batting average (.389) and triples (five), and tied the school single-season record for hits with 72.

With All-ACC Second Team and All-ACC Freshman Team honors that year, Caraway was one of the most successful players the Wolfpack has had in recent years.

For a team that struggled to a 23-31 (5-18 ACC) record in 2018, losing one of its best players will be a serious blow for the Wolfpack. Caraway led off in all 54 games for the Wolfpack in 2018, leading the team with 27 walks (two hit-by-pitches), going 13 for 13 on stolen base attempts and making just two errors in center field.

Caraway is a native Floridian, hailing from Winter Garden. She was recruited by Rychick throughout her successful high school career at West Orange High School and committed to the Pack in 2015.

The Wolfpack is already a young team with just three rising seniors for the 2019 season; losing Caraway, a veteran who started over 100 games for the Pack, will be a monumental blow.

Caraway joins a Florida team that went 56-11 (20-4 SEC) in 2018 and made it all the way to the Women’s College World Series before being eliminated. She will have two years of eligibility left at Florida.