Softball

2022 (Senior): After putting together a breakout season in 2021, Bryson shattered those numbers in 2022, helping lead the Golden Eagles back to the Ohio Valley Conference tournament ... Bryson batted .392 on the season with 67 hits -- 12 doubles, one triple and nine home runs... Drove in 41 runs, while came home to score 46 times... Was one of the toughest batters to strikeout in the country last season, striking out just six times in 171 at-bats. In the circle, Bryson compiled a 4.31 earned run average with a 6-5 record, walking 23 and striking out 52 with two complete games and two shutouts ... drove in four runs in a single-game twice in 2022 as she went 2-for-4 with a home run against Purdue Fort Wayne (2/18/22) and 2-for-4 with a home run against Pitt (2/26/22) ... hit two home runs at East Tennessee State (3/5/22) ... threw a one-hit victory over Presbyterian (2/11/22) as she struck out eight ... also whiffed eight against Northwestern State (2/18/22).

2021 (Junior): Bryson put together her best season to date, both offensively and defensively, during the 2021 campaign. As a pitcher, Bryson posted a 3.07 ERA with an 8-10 record. She struck out 66 batters and opponents hit .258 against her across 111 2/3 innings of work. Bryson appeared in 22 games with 12 starts, throwing seven complete games. She earned an Ohio Valley Conference pitcher of the week nod on April 19, picking up two wins over SIUE while allowing three runs in the two contests. She tied her career-high in strikeouts, whiffing six batters at Tennessee State on March 6. Offensively, Bryson ended the season with a .232 average, collecting 33 hits, 12 RBI and 12 runs scored with two home runs. She finished the year with eight multi-hit games, while posting four two-RBI games. She homered against Chattanooga (Feb. 25) and Morehead State (March 21).

2020 (Sophomore): During the COVID-19 pandemic-shortened season, Bryson put together a solid effort in the circle. In six starts over nine appearances, Bryson posted a 3-5 record and a 5.37 ERA with three complete games over 43 complete innings. Opponents hit .321 against her as she allowed 39 runs -- 33 earned -- on 61 hits as she walked 10 and struck out 23. Her best effort came on Feb. 21 vs. La Salle as she worked 4 1/3 innings in a run-ruled contest, taking a no-hitter into the fifth inning. She also struck out a career-high six batters against Bowling Green (2/14). As a batter, Bryson hit .238, collecting 10 hits with three doubles, seven RBI and four runs scored. She had two multi-hit games with two against Bowling Green (3/1/20) and Lipscomb (3/7/20, game two). Bryson also recorded two RBI in a 7-5 win over Chattanooga (2/16/20).

2019 (Freshman): Saw action in 14 games as a batter with eight starts ... hit .160 in 25 at-bats with four hits, including a three-run home run against Samford (3/19/19) ... had six total RBI and two runs scored ... had five putouts, 30 assists and one error as an infielder for a .972 fielding percentage ... in the circle, she had a 3-8 record with a 5.78 ERA in 20 appearances and 12 starts ... had four complete games in 76 1/3 innings of work ... walked 24 and struck out 33 as opponents hit .305 against her ... worked a career-long 7 1/3 innings vs. Indiana State (2/16/19) ... walked a career-high five at Samford (3/19/19), struck out a career-high four batters four times.

HIGH SCHOOL: Played four seasons as a pitcher/utility for head coach Adam Tallent at Franklin (N.C.) HS, as well as three seasons of volleyball as a libero for head coach Amanda Dowdle. 

In softball, Bryson was named all-conference, all-district, all-state and player of the year all four seasons and the state pitcher of the year as a senior. In volleyball, she was named all-conference as a junior and senior, as well as all-state honorable mention.

In her prep career, Bryson hit 29 home runs and had 159 hits, while pitching 433 innings and striking out 527 batters.

As a senior, she batted .507 with 38 hits and 35 runs scored, driving in 24 RBI with 11 doubles, four triples and four home runs. In the circle, she recorded an 18-3 record with a 1.11 ERA. She had 16 complete games and five shutouts as she walked 21 and struck out 175.

PERSONAL: The daughter of Tracie Thomas ... born November 22, 1999, in Sylva, N.C. ... sister Rhiley played volleyball at Chattanooga State.

ACADEMICS: Working toward her master's degree in health care administration